Post-lease IT equipment and ecology

When buying computer equipment for your business or home, it is worth checking not only the offers of new equipment. Post-lease equipment may prove to be an equally efficient and much greener option. What are the characteristics of this solution, what benefits it provides and where to look for suitable proposals of this type?

What is post-lease equipment?

First of all, it is worth explaining what leasing itself is - it is one form of financing various goods for companies (including IT equipment), which provides the opportunity to use a given product in exchange for a certain fee for a fixed period of time. At the end of the leasing period, which is usually 2-3 years for electronic devices, the customer can buy the equipment outright or return it to the lessor. In many cases, after this time, companies prefer to move to new equipment - but it is worth noting that the equipment used for such a period is still usually fully operational and does not stand out in almost any respect from the freshly purchased proposals. This is especially true for the most popular brands, which specialize in solutions for major companies and corporations. We are talking about manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, HP or Apple - laptops and other solutions from these companies are characterized by full efficiency for a long time.

Post-leasing equipment is just any equipment returned by companies after leasing. The term can include, but is not limited to, laptops, computers, monitors, printers or phones. In the vast majority of cases, it is full-featured equipment that provides performance comparable to a new device. At the same time, the price is definitely lower than if you buy a laptop or computer straight from the manufacturer right after the launch. As a result, it is a great solution for both small and larger companies, as well as an interesting proposition for individual customers. Depending on the store chosen, savings can be up to 70%, but this is just one of the many benefits - not to overlook ecology, which is playing an increasingly important role in consumer decisions.

Production of new IT equipment vs. ecology

The manufacture of almost any commodity - especially high-tech equipment - involves some environmental impact. IT equipment is no different. Among other things, it is worth looking at the consumption of raw materials in the production of a single laptop:

• as much as 150-190 thousand. liters of water;
• 22 kilograms of various types of chemical compounds, which can be quite challenging to recycle or dispose of;
• about. 240 kg of fuel required for the operation of equipment used in the production of the equipment;
• this process also emits approx. 270 kg of carbon dioxide.

The above figures perfectly illustrate why it is worth looking around for used, but still fully operational equipment when replacing equipment. This is an important part of the so-called Circular Economy, or closed-loop economy - reducing the need for new copies of equipment leads to a significant reduction in waste, which in turn minimizes the environmental impact of production. This is basically a chance to give a "second life" to a laptop or computer that is no longer sufficient for the needs of a particular company, but will be a suitable option for someone else.

How used electronics affect the environment?

So-called electro-waste is one of the most dangerous groups of waste. This is because electronic devices contain compounds that contain numerous harmful elements - including mercury, lead, cadmium or nickel. Getting rid of them from the environment without proper disposal is very difficult, and their presence in the soil, water or air can cause quite a threat to animal and human health. What's more, only a small fraction of electronic devices are recycled properly, and in many countries, used equipment is simply sent to landfills in other, poorer countries.

To solve this problem, it is a good idea to remember to take your electro-waste to a proper disposal facility. The operation of such sites is based on the use of special processes for destroying hazardous components and donating still useful parts for reuse. Not to forget another part of the economic puzzle - in addition to recycling, it is also important to continue using efficient products to reduce the demand for new production and the impact of inadequate disposal on the ecology.

Why buy post-lease equipment? An eco-friendly alternative to new appliances

Reducing the amount of waste generated and reducing the need to manufacture new equipment are two of the most important environmental factors in purchasing post-lease equipment. It is worth noting here that the production of IT-related products uses quite a lot of plastic, which is extremely difficult to recycle. On top of that, individual elements in electronic components can cause quite a health risk, increasing the risk of cancer, among other things. In addition, the purchase of second-hand equipment provides environmental benefits by reducing the energy demand used in the manufacture of new equipment. All this makes post-lease equipment a very responsible option in terms of ecology.

Benefits of buying a post-lease laptop

It is worth noting that the advantages of such a solution do not end with the positive impact on the environment. An extremely important advantage is also a much lower price than when buying a new product. At the same time, computers, laptops, monitors or other equipment after leasing mostly do not deviate in any way from the efficiency right after the premiere. Savings can be up to 70%. However, it is worth remembering to bet only on proven suppliers who are able to guarantee a thorough check of the equipment offered. The best option will be to buy from companies that have their own professional teams to verify the technical performance and assess the visual condition of the proposed equipment. Often we can also meet with a scale that evaluates the damage on the case - it should be borne in mind that they do not affect the use of the device, but only aesthetic qualities. Importantly, even a few scratches can noticeably reduce the price of the device without causing any problems during use.

Zero Waste vs. post-lease laptops

The Zero Waste approach (literally. "zero waste") focuses on reducing waste as much as possible, which in turn means less environmental impact. The purchase of post-lease equipment fits perfectly into this idea. It's a responsible choice that reduces the amount of electro-waste that disrupts the environment, as well as reducing the need for new devices, the production of which involves a significant consumption of raw materials.

It is worth mentioning at this point that the Zero Waste concept is also linked to other important topics related to ecology. In addition to the aforementioned closed-loop economy, it is also worth highlighting the 3R principle, which is now often expanded to include the 5Rs. We're talking about some basic steps to reduce your impact on the environment, which in English begin with the letter "R."

• reduce - reduce consumption;
• recycle - recycling;
• reuse;
• refuse - refuse (for products with harmful environmental impacts when greener alternatives are available);
• rot - composting, as well as acquiring goods that are not problematic to decompose.

To this it is also worth adding a sixth "R", or refurbish - refurbishing various products to further reduce the need to produce new goods. This process is particularly often used precisely for IT equipment, which may simply require a few minor repairs to return to full working order.

Refurbish - refurbished equipment can be even better than a new device

It is worth noting that companies engaged in the sale of post-lease IT equipment focus primarily on proposals from proven, trusted manufacturers, whose devices are characterized by high durability and maintenance of great performance for a long time. As a result, buying such a device rarely means having to put up with inferior performance - you get a full-featured, smooth-running piece of equipment that can last up to a few more years. In addition, before going on sale again, the equipment is thoroughly checked for technical efficiency, which sometimes also involves correcting certain defects. As a result, the failure rate may even be lower than when buying brand new equipment - additional quality control after a certain period of use translates into much greater confidence in the technical condition.

Combining this issue with the positive impact on the environment and the huge potential for savings, it is easy to conclude that leasing equipment is often even a better solution than buying an appliance straight from the store. However, to make sure that the whole thing works in the right way, you should bet on partners with the right reputation and some experience. On the Polish market it is worth betting m.in. on SIMS intenational company operating uninterruptedly since 1996 first under the Device brand and later Orbit365.

Where to buy post-lease equipment? Check out Orbit365's extensive offerings

Device has been one of the leading sellers of post-lease IT equipment in Poland for more than 25 years, offering solutions from top manufacturers. One of the biggest advantages of the Device offer is the 12-month warranty, which covers all equipment offered. Assortment includes laptops, computers, monitors, tablets and smartphones. What's more, the company is part of the Sims Limited group - a global leader in the sale of used IT equipment, which operates in as many as 90 countries around the world. Each device available from Device is checked in detail before going on sale, so customers can count on full efficiency and trouble-free use for a long time.

Taking advantage of Device's proposal allows you to take care of the environment in a comprehensive way, not only because of the mere fact of access to post-lease equipment. The company uses environmentally friendly packaging, and delivery of orders is made only with the support of suppliers committed to going green by reducing carbon emissions or maintaining carbon neutrality.

Not insignificant is also the high quality of Device. It is validated by numerous industry certifications, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001. In addition, the company is an official partner of Microsoft. This means that, even for used hardware, you can easily order fully legal Windows and software with the ability to configure it exactly to your preferences. The offer focuses on solutions from proven manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Apple, Lenovo and Samsung - these are devices that retain 100% performance even after several years.