MCL380

Special topics in Mechanical engineering

CIRCULAR IT MANAGEMENT

Reference : based
on report by Clare
Hobby (Director of
TCO development)
THE CONCEPT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The circular economy is the next frontier of
sustainability as we aim towards eliminating waste and
keeping products in circulation.
In a circular economy, resources are handled in a more
responsible way meaning they are used longer
,recovered and then reused as feedstock for new
products.

SOURCE: https://www.aashe.org/it-lifecycle-circular-
economy/
KEY ISSUES
To create a truly circular economy the world must
overcome the following five barriers:
 Meeting consumers expectations for convenience
 govt. regulations can create waste
 many places lack proper waste infrastructure
 recycling technology is not good enough
 we use the wrong business models.

SOURCE: https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/05/barriers-circular-
economy-5-reasons-world-wastes-so-much-stuff-and-why-its-not-just
 SEVEN PILLARS OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY
 Materials are cycled at continuous high value
 all energy based on renewable sources
 human society and culture is preserved
 biodiversity is supported
 human activities maximize generation of societal
value
 water resources are extracted and used sustainabily
 the health and well being of human are supported

SOURCE: https://www.metabolic.nl/news/the-seven-pillars-of-
the-circular-economy/
MOVEMENT FROM A LINEAR TO A
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
 In a linear economy, we take virgin resources to make
products, which are too often discarded once we are
done using them – often after a relatively short use
time.
 The bottom line is that moving to a circular approach
to IT has the vast potential to conserve resources,
extend the lives of products and prevent waste
altogether .

SOURCE:https://www.aashe.org/it-lifecycle-circular-
economy/
WHAT IS ITS BENEFIT ?
 Creation of new green industries and jobs
 reduced dependence on importation of raw materials
 avoidance of environmental damage caused by
resource extraction
 less pollution entering the earth’s life support systems

SOURCE:
https://www.wastewiseproductsinc.com/blog/sustainability/4-benefits-
of-a-circular-economy/
WHY MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION
 Finite resources, finite space
 Financially it just makes sense
 Moving towards a global circular economy is the only
option for long term sustainability

SOURCE: https://www.aashe.org/it-lifecycle-circular-economy/
ISN’T CIRCULARITY ALL ABOUT RECYCLING ?
 The basic premise of the circular economy is to keep
products and materials in use as long as possible, at
their highest value and then recover them for reuse in
new products.
 For IT, this means extending the usable life of the
products we already have and those we intend to buy
in the future.

SOURCE: https://www.aashe.org/it-lifecycle-circular-
FOUR MAIN PRIORITIES IN CIRCULAR IT
MANAGEMENT
 Longer use
 Refurbish
 Remanufacture
 Recycle

SOURCE: https://www.aashe.org/it-lifecycle-circular-economy/
 CONCLUSIONS
 Extending product life cuts greenhouse gas
emissions.
 carbon footprints is reduced.
 buying new makes more energy efficient
 circular solutions are better from a financial
perspective.

SOURCE: https://www.aashe.org/it-lifecycle-circular-economy/
THANK YOU