What is net zero and how does IT relate to it?
Net zero means reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, and balancing any remaining emissions with equivalent removals or offsets. The UK Government has committed to reaching net zero by 2050 under the Climate Change Act 2008 (as amended). Many organisations have set earlier targets — 2030 or 2035 — under commitments such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
For most organisations, the journey to net zero has focused on energy: switching to renewable electricity, improving building efficiency, electrifying fleets. These are important, but they leave a significant portion of emissions unaddressed.
IT is one of the most carbon-intensive aspects of modern business operations — and one of the most frequently underestimated. The carbon footprint of an organisation’s technology estate does not begin when devices are switched on and end when they are switched off. It stretches from raw material extraction at the start of the supply chain to waste processing at end of life.
What are Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions — and where does IT fit?
The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol divides emissions into three scopes:
Scope 1: direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organisation — for example, fuel burned in owned vehicles or on-site generators.
Scope 2: indirect emissions from purchased energy — primarily the electricity used to power offices, data centres, and devices.
Scope 3: all other indirect emissions in the value chain — including purchased goods and services, business travel, employee commuting, waste, and the use and disposal of sold products.
IT emissions span all three scopes, but Scope 3 is where the bulk of the impact lies for most organisations:
- Purchased goods and services (Scope 3, Category 1): the embodied carbon in the devices an organisation buys — the emissions from mining, manufacturing, and transporting them
- Waste generated in operations (Scope 3, Category 5): the emissions associated with disposing of retired IT equipment, including e-waste sent to landfill or uncontrolled channels
- Capital goods (Scope 3, Category 2): for organisations that treat IT as capital expenditure, the embodied carbon of purchased devices falls here
For a typical office-based organisation, Scope 3 often represents 70% or more of total emissions. Addressing it is not optional if a net zero commitment is to be credible.
Why does embodied carbon in devices matter for net zero?
Embodied carbon — the emissions locked in during manufacturing — is the dominant component of a device’s lifetime carbon footprint. For a laptop, research suggests that manufacturing accounts for up to 80% of total lifetime emissions. (Source: Apple Environmental Progress Reports and independent lifecycle assessments; figures vary by model and manufacturer.)
This has a direct implication for net zero strategy. Organisations that buy new devices frequently are generating substantial Scope 3 Category 1 or Category 2 emissions with every procurement cycle, regardless of how efficient those devices are in use.
The most effective way to reduce this component of the carbon footprint is to extend device lifetimes. Every year added to a device’s working life reduces the annualised embodied carbon per year of use. A laptop used for five years rather than three has 40% lower annual embodied carbon — without any change to the device itself.
This means that net zero IT strategy should begin with procurement: buy fewer new devices, extend replacement cycles where possible, and specify longevity in device contracts.
How does IT disposal affect net zero progress?
End-of-life IT disposal is a Scope 3 Category 5 issue. When devices are retired, the way they are disposed of affects both the organisation’s emissions profile and its ability to report credibly on net zero progress.
Devices sent to landfill or uncontrolled disposal: no carbon benefit is captured, materials are lost, and the organisation’s Scope 3 footprint includes unmitigated waste emissions. In a net zero disclosure, this is a gap.
Devices recycled through certified WEEE processors: materials are recovered, reducing the demand for virgin extraction. A modest Scope 3 benefit is captured and documentable.
Devices refurbished and reused: the most significant net zero contribution from IT disposal. The refurbished device displaces the manufacture of a new device — avoiding the full embodied carbon of that replacement. This avoided carbon is real, measurable, and in principle reportable as a Scope 3 reduction, though the GHG Protocol’s treatment of avoided emissions is an area of ongoing development.
At Recycle4Charity, we prioritise refurbishment and reuse over recycling for precisely this reason. When we collect a batch of devices from a London business, assess them, refurbish the functional ones, and donate them to people who need technology, the carbon benefit is concrete: fewer new devices need to be manufactured to meet demand.
What should a net zero IT strategy include?
A credible net zero IT strategy addresses the full device lifecycle:
At procurement stage:
– Extend device replacement cycles where performance allows
– Specify a minimum lifespan in device contracts (e.g. five years rather than three)
– Consider refurbished devices for appropriate roles — procurement teams, back-office functions, education and training
During operational life:
– Maintain devices through software updates and minor hardware repairs rather than replacing prematurely
– Audit the device estate regularly to identify over-provisioning (devices that are unused or underused)
At end of life:
– Engage a certified ITAD provider before any disposal decision is made
– Prioritise reuse — assess every device for refurbishment potential
– Require certified WEEE recycling for devices that cannot be reused
– Document outcomes for Scope 3 reporting: devices refurbished, CO₂ avoided, materials recovered
In reporting:
– Disclose Scope 3 Category 1, 2, and 5 figures for IT, separately from energy
– Use third-party-verified impact data from your ITAD provider
– Align with the GHG Protocol and, where relevant, SBTi requirements for Scope 3 coverage
Is IT a material carbon issue for most organisations?
For any organisation with a significant device estate — and that includes most businesses, public sector bodies, universities, and charities — IT is a material Scope 3 issue. The carbon embedded in a fleet of 500 laptops is substantial. The carbon avoided by refurbishing 400 of those devices rather than discarding them is equally substantial.
The UK’s 2050 net zero target, and the growing expectation from investors, clients, and regulators that organisations disclose credible net zero plans, makes this a strategic priority rather than a nice-to-have.
To see how Recycle4Charity’s model contributes to measurable carbon reduction, visit our impact page. For guidance on including IT disposal in your ESG and carbon reports, read our article on how to write IT disposal into your ESG report.
If you are building a net zero IT strategy and want a certified ITAD partner who provides the documentation to back it up, get in touch with Recycle4Charity.