The problem with “recycled” computers When an organisation retires a computer — a desktop, laptop, or server — and sends it to a recycling centre or donates it, the assumption is often that the device is blank. It rarely is. Research by independent security organisations over many years has found personal data — sometimes including […]

Why standards matter Saying that data has been “destroyed” or “wiped” is not sufficient for compliance. UK GDPR’s accountability principle requires organisations to demonstrate compliance, not just assert it. That means being able to point to a specific, recognised standard that was applied, and to a verification record showing the standard was met. Standards serve […]

Why data centre decommissioning requires a formal process A data centre holds more sensitive data per square metre than almost any other part of a business. Servers, storage arrays, network equipment, and even decommissioned UPS units may hold personal data, commercially sensitive information, or cryptographic material. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 require […]

How IT Disposal Becomes a Data Breach The connection between IT disposal and data breach is straightforward: when a device is retired and passes out of an organisation’s control — to a recycler, a second-hand market, a landfill or even a member of staff — any personal data remaining on its storage media is potentially […]

Why Cleaning Before Donation Is Important A laptop you donate may pass through several pairs of hands — a refurbisher, a volunteer, and eventually the recipient. Any personal data still on the drive — documents, passwords saved in a browser, email, banking details — could be accessed by anyone who handles the device. Simply deleting […]

What is a linear economy? The linear economy is the dominant model of the 20th century and, in most sectors, still the default today. Raw materials are extracted from the earth, manufactured into products, sold to consumers or businesses, used for a period, and then discarded. In economic terms, it is sometimes called the “take, […]

Where do the circular economy principles come from? The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, established in 2010, is the most influential organisation advancing circular economy thinking globally. Its three core principles provide a practical framework for redesigning economic systems — not just improving them at the margins. These principles are not abstract ideals. Each one has direct […]

Why look at tech for circular economy examples? Technology is both one of the most resource-intensive industries on the planet and one of the most promising candidates for circular transformation. Electronics contain dozens of valuable materials — gold, copper, cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements — that are expensive to extract, geopolitically sensitive to source, and […]

Why a certificate of data destruction matters UK GDPR does not simply require organisations to destroy personal data — it requires them to be able to demonstrate that they did so. Article 5(2), the accountability principle, places the burden of proof on the data controller. When the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) investigates a data breach […]

What determines how long a business laptop lasts? Business laptops are built to a higher standard than consumer models, but they still have finite working lives. Several factors determine where in the three-to-five-year window a specific device falls. Manufacturer support is often the defining constraint. When a laptop model reaches end of support, the manufacturer […]