From buffalo skins to oil, natural resources have always been extracted in numerous ways for economically-driven motives. Today, rare earth metals and other critical minerals like lithium and cobalt are among the highest-profile resources facing depletion, as these resources are used in our computers, mobile devices, and electric vehicles. Since we interact with these products on a daily basis, there is a highly-developed economic engine associated with this mining and resource extraction. In fact, there are large mining companies that have been dedicated to extracting resources from the earth for hundreds of years—and they know how to do it efficiently and profitably. They know where the resources are and can easily get the funding needed to build mines to extract minerals and put them into the supply chain.
Despite this ample funding, experience, and regulation, many mining companies take shortcuts or insufficient steps to minimize the detrimental impact they can have on local communities and ecosystems. For example, in Zambia—which is among the top ten copper producers in the world—a mining company caused an acid spill in February that led to waste being dumped into the Kafue River. As a result, 20 million residents who rely on the river for agriculture, fishing, and industrial use were negatively affected. Although the contamination was contained—and the government ordered the company to stop its operations until the effects are repaired—the incident left dead fish and devastation in its wake that environmentalists say will have “catastrophic consequences” for decades to come.
Similarly, in 2014, the Mount Polley Mine in British Columbia caused an environmental disaster when a dam collapsed and spilled gold and copper mining waste, also known as tailings, into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek, and Quesnel Lake. This led to arsenic, copper, nickel, and lead being dumped into these waterways in toxic concentration, causing significant harm to the area’s habitat. The height of the dam is currently being raised to align with stronger governmental standards put in place since the incident.
While mining remains robust in spite of these types of issues, the economic engine for mitigating the effects of resource depletion is not nearly as developed. There’s much less investment in taking all of the resources that have been extracted, consolidating or aggregating them, and processing them into reusable products. But there needs to be more investment in sustainable solutions to our technology addiction in order to repair our relationship with the natural world. Unfortunately, the political changing of the guard is likely to significantly slow this down. Whatever gains were made in recent years are no longer a top priority for the current administration, so sustainability will be taking a backseat. The good news is, even with these setbacks, businesses can still contribute to environmental mending.
Fueling a System of Circularity
Creating a circular economy—a system that keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible—is an effective strategy for reducing waste and conserving resources. For example, some mobile device manufacturers and carriers have implemented consumer-focused take-back programs that offer a credit to customers for old devices. This is a win-win-win situation where the consumer can get a discount on new devices, the mobile company gets some recovery value to offset these deals, and the device itself is either resold on the secondary market or recycled.
Similarly, lead-acid batteries from vehicles may be returned for a credit, allowing consumers to get a new battery whenever they turn in an old one. The batteries are then refined and the lead is taken out of them to be used to manufacture other products, such as bullets and shotgun cartridges.
But companies don’t have to make products to be part of the circular economy. By creating an IT asset disposition (ITAD) program, companies can reduce their footprint while enjoying a positive budgetary impact. For example, if an organization generally buys new equipment every three years, through ITAD, leaders can effectively develop an IT retirement plan that allows them to get the technology they need, supports their budgetary efforts, and makes their operations more environmentally friendly.
Shaping a Strong Sustainability Mission
People are looking for purpose. Employees are looking for something that gets them up in the morning and gets them to work outside of just making a paycheck. Consumers are looking for ways to make a difference with their dollars. As a result, organizations that incorporate sustainability into their mission are better positioned to attract employees and customers alike. Creating a mission statement that includes a dedication to sustainability, and being vocal about it, will have the effect of attracting and retaining great people and will resonate with their client base.
However, this isn’t just about what companies put on paper. Just as mining firms have depleted the earth’s resources for profit-driven motives, some organizations have made grandiose statements about sustainability that have amounted to nothing more than profit-driven greenwashing. To become part of the solution, companies need to put their money where their proclaimed mission is.
At mender, we’ve done this by pledging five percent of our profits to organizations dedicated to land and wildlife conservation. We also connect our employees to our mission by giving them opportunities to volunteer during community events that contribute to healing the environment. This helps everyone in our organization live our mission and understand that it’s not just a profit-driven one.
Technology isn’t going anywhere, and that means mining companies will continue extracting minerals from the earth to make the products we have come to rely on. By considering the impact this has on the planet, and reusing the resources we’ve already taken from it, we can help preserve the earth’s natural balance. When ingraining sustainability into their business practices, companies can help mend our relationship with the planet.
About mender
mender is a global IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) company, specializing in eco-friendly IT asset disposition
services while focusing on extending the lifecycle of IT assets through responsible recycling and resale.
The company ensures secure disposal and recycling of IT equipment, aiming to protect the environment
and clients’ brand reputation. mender adheres to sustainable practices that promote a circular
economy. The services include secure data destruction, IT asset recovery, and environmentally-responsible recycling, catering to the needs of businesses looking to dispose of their IT assets in an eco-
conscious manner. mender supports wildlife and land conservation efforts through a giving pledge of
five percent of its net profits back to the community.
For more information, visit: https://www.withmender.com/
