World Sustainability Day is observed every year on the last Wednesday of October — in 2025, it falls on October 29, according to Impactful Ninja. But sustainability shouldn’t be reserved for a single day on the calendar. Every small action we take can make a difference, and the best part is: you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to get started.
In this blog, we’ll share five simple, practical ways to contribute — both personally and within your company — and how to make these habits stick throughout the year.
Transportation is one of the main sources of carbon emissions. Walking, biking, or using public transit are straightforward ways to cut your footprint, as explained in Wikipedia’s page on individual action and climate change.
For businesses, this translates into encouraging virtual meetings instead of unnecessary trips and offering incentives for shared commuting. These changes don’t just reduce emissions — they also save time and travel costs, as highlighted by Real Simple.
Sustainability often starts with everyday choices: turning off lights and equipment when not in use, programming thermostats for efficiency, or fixing leaks. Even a dripping faucet can waste dozens of liters of water a day, according to Wikipedia on micro-sustainability.
In offices and facilities, this becomes part of the organizational culture: reminders, motion-sensor lighting, and energy audits all help maintain efficiency over time, as suggested by The Be Kind People Project.
Every purchase is a decision with environmental impact. Choosing durable products, second-hand items, or recyclable packaging is a direct way to reduce waste, according to Take Me Fishing.
When it comes to food, cutting back on meat is one of the most effective measures. Agriculture is responsible for nearly one-third of global emissions, as noted by The Be Kind People Project. Companies can make a difference by offering more plant-based options in corporate cafeterias or choosing local suppliers.
Micro-sustainability refers to small, repeated actions that add up to a big impact: switching off lights, reusing containers, recycling, or improving building insulation, as explained in Wikipedia’s article on micro-sustainability.
For companies, adopting this mindset means reviewing internal processes to identify where resources, time, and energy can be saved. The bonus? Many of these measures also cut operating costs, according to Wikipedia on sustainable living.
It’s not just about individual actions. When companies integrate sustainability into their strategy, the effect multiplies. Take Mastercard, for example: the company reduced supply chain (Scope 3) emissions by 40% while continuing to grow revenue.
From promoting circular economy practices (repair, reuse, extend product lifecycles) to aligning financial decisions with environmental goals, sustainability leaders play a crucial role in creating long-term impact, as outlined in Time Magazine.
World Sustainability Day is a perfect reminder to pause and reflect — but real impact comes from consistency. How we move, what we consume, and the practices we foster in our companies all add up.
Ultimately, sustainability is not a one-day goal; it’s an everyday practice. The sooner we weave it into our decisions, the closer we get to building a future that works for everyone.
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World Sustainability Day is observed every year on the last Wednesday of October — in 2025, it falls on October 29, according to Impactful Ninja. But sustainability shouldn’t be reserved for a single day on the calendar. Every small action we take can make a difference, and the best part is: you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to get started.
In this blog, we’ll share five simple, practical ways to contribute — both personally and within your company — and how to make these habits stick throughout the year.
Transportation is one of the main sources of carbon emissions. Walking, biking, or using public transit are straightforward ways to cut your footprint, as explained in Wikipedia’s page on individual action and climate change.
For businesses, this translates into encouraging virtual meetings instead of unnecessary trips and offering incentives for shared commuting. These changes don’t just reduce emissions — they also save time and travel costs, as highlighted by Real Simple.
Sustainability often starts with everyday choices: turning off lights and equipment when not in use, programming thermostats for efficiency, or fixing leaks. Even a dripping faucet can waste dozens of liters of water a day, according to Wikipedia on micro-sustainability.
In offices and facilities, this becomes part of the organizational culture: reminders, motion-sensor lighting, and energy audits all help maintain efficiency over time, as suggested by The Be Kind People Project.
Every purchase is a decision with environmental impact. Choosing durable products, second-hand items, or recyclable packaging is a direct way to reduce waste, according to Take Me Fishing.
When it comes to food, cutting back on meat is one of the most effective measures. Agriculture is responsible for nearly one-third of global emissions, as noted by The Be Kind People Project. Companies can make a difference by offering more plant-based options in corporate cafeterias or choosing local suppliers.
Micro-sustainability refers to small, repeated actions that add up to a big impact: switching off lights, reusing containers, recycling, or improving building insulation, as explained in Wikipedia’s article on micro-sustainability.
For companies, adopting this mindset means reviewing internal processes to identify where resources, time, and energy can be saved. The bonus? Many of these measures also cut operating costs, according to Wikipedia on sustainable living.
It’s not just about individual actions. When companies integrate sustainability into their strategy, the effect multiplies. Take Mastercard, for example: the company reduced supply chain (Scope 3) emissions by 40% while continuing to grow revenue.
From promoting circular economy practices (repair, reuse, extend product lifecycles) to aligning financial decisions with environmental goals, sustainability leaders play a crucial role in creating long-term impact, as outlined in Time Magazine.
World Sustainability Day is a perfect reminder to pause and reflect — but real impact comes from consistency. How we move, what we consume, and the practices we foster in our companies all add up.
Ultimately, sustainability is not a one-day goal; it’s an everyday practice. The sooner we weave it into our decisions, the closer we get to building a future that works for everyone.
Let’s start with the obvious: when you finally let go of that dusty 2009 server, you’re not just freeing up rack space. You’re cutting operating costs, reducing risks, shrinking your environmental footprint, and moving closer to your company’s sustainability goals.
Old servers are energy hogs. They drain power, demand more cooling, and need constant maintenance. Retiring them lowers utility bills and slashes emissions. Data centers in the U.S. consume between 239 and 240 terawatt-hours every year—about as much as the entire state of Florida uses annually—bringing an estimated public health cost of $5.7 to $9.2 billion, from asthma cases to premature deaths.
Those legacy machines no longer get patches, making them easy targets for cyberattacks. They also fall short of meeting compliance requirements for frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS.
Amazon Web Services has built what feels like a reverse unboxing: when its servers age out, they’re sent to reverse logistics centers where they’re cleaned, refurbished, tested, and redeployed. This process extends hardware life, minimizes waste, and keeps valuable materials in circulation.
This isn’t just about recycling—it’s about squeezing out every bit of value before responsibly breaking down components. Extending server life reduces raw material extraction and makes IT more sustainable.
Across the U.S., certified IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) companies handle secure, sustainable server decommissioning:
Retiring that 2009 server isn’t just housekeeping—it’s a strategic move that:
Letting go of that old 2009 server isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a mindset shift. Every piece of outdated hardware you retire is a chance to show your stakeholders, employees, and customers that sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a real priority in your business.
The “reverse unboxing” moment is about more than dismantling machines—it’s about building trust, cutting costs, and proving that innovation can go hand in hand with responsibility. If your organization hasn’t yet made a plan to phase out legacy servers, now is the perfect time to start. The next generation of IT is leaner, greener, and smarter—and the sooner you join it, the sooner you’ll reap the rewards.
Reducing e-waste in companies is essential, as it protects the environment and boosts efficiency without disrupting business flow. From extending device lifespan to building smart partnerships, here’s what works today, in 2025.
E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide, and much of it isn’t recycled properly. This creates environmental and health risks due to substances like lead and mercury. Companies like ecoATM are tackling this with kiosks that buy and recycle small devices, offering incentives so people stop tossing them in the trash.
Regular maintenance, choosing durable devices, and opting for Energy Star certifications are small decisions that help delay replacement and cut e-waste.
Tools like depot services allow companies to repair and upgrade laptops or phones before replacing them. Ingram Micro Lifecycle provides processes that extend asset life, reduce costs, and maintain smooth operations.
Circular models mean designing or acquiring devices with reuse and recycling in mind. Companies are already applying this successfully: Circular Computing remanufactures laptops (HP, Dell, Lenovo) under BSI Kitemark quality standards, saving hundreds of kilograms of resources and tens of thousands of liters of water per device, while cutting CO₂ emissions.
IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) solutions ensure the secure disposal of corporate assets. For instance, CompuCycle recommends a comprehensive approach that encompasses inventory management, data security, potential resale, and regulatory compliance, all while transforming waste into opportunities.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and take-back systems shift end-of-life responsibility to the manufacturer. This encourages sustainable design and facilitates recovery. Xerox saved more than $200 million in a single year thanks to its take-back program.
Cleaner processes, such as hydrometallurgy, make it possible to recover valuable metals from e-waste with a lower environmental impact, pointing to the future of corporate e-waste management.
Do these measures slow down operations?
Not at all—extending device life or refurbishing equipment is often faster, cheaper, and less disruptive than a full replacement cycle.
Do they affect costs?
Yes. While there’s an initial investment (such as depot services or ITAD partnerships), returns come in the form of savings, asset resale, regulatory compliance, and improved ESG reputation.
How is sensitive data protected?
By working with certified recyclers (R2, e-Stewards) that guarantee secure data destruction.
Reducing corporate e-waste doesn’t mean slowing down operations—it means running smarter: extending device life, partnering with responsible providers, and adopting circular policies. That way, you protect the planet while strengthening both your finances and your reputation as a responsible company.
World Sustainability Day is no longer just a catchy phrase for social media; it represents a turning point for the future of electronic waste recycling. For U.S. companies and sustainability leaders, this day is the perfect platform to take action, inspire, and connect with a truly circular economy.
In 2022, the world generated around 62 million tons of e-waste, a number expected to reach 82 million by 2030. Out of that total, only 22% was properly recycled. That means more than 75% of electronic waste ends up in landfills or is handled informally, creating significant environmental and health risks.
This same e-waste doesn’t just contain toxic substances like lead, mercury, or cadmium—it also holds valuable materials such as gold, silver, copper, and rare earth elements, all of which are lost if not recycled responsibly.
World Sustainability Day becomes the perfect moment to address this structural problem, build alliances, and promote better practices across the tech industry.
This day is a chance to launch internal or external campaigns that encourage employees and customers to recycle old devices—combining environmental awareness with tangible benefits. Communicating that those “drawers full of cables and gadgets” could be worth billions of dollars in recoverable materials can be highly effective.
Partnering with programs like ecoATM, which collects small devices in kiosks in exchange for cash, makes it easier for consumers to recycle responsibly. Supporting certifications like R2 or e-Stewards also strengthens trust in sustainable waste management.
World Sustainability Day is also an opportunity to highlight innovative technologies. For example, a new three-step method to extract gold from old phones shows how e-waste can be turned into a sustainable source of resources.
Advocating for laws that require manufacturers to take responsibility for recycling their products promotes longer-lasting designs and recyclability, while reducing planned obsolescence.
World Sustainability Day can become a true catalyst for action:
Think about that smartwatch that once buzzed on your wrist all day long. It counted your steps, kept you connected, and even checked your heart rate. And then—maybe the battery started acting up, or you just wanted the latest model—it ended up tossed in a drawer.
Let me ask you:
Smartwatch batteries may be tiny, but they can turn into little time bombs. No exaggeration. When these devices end up in regular trash, their lithium batteries can leak heavy metals into the soil and water… or even cause fires in landfills and garbage trucks.
Sound extreme? It’s not. According to the EPA, battery-related fires are on the rise across the US, causing real damage in recycling centers and waste trucks every year.
Let’s be honest:
Would you know how to recycle an old smartwatch?
Most people have no clue. A lot of people don’t realize these devices can’t be tossed in the trash. Apple, for example, has its own recycling program, but if nobody tells you about it, how would you know?
Here’s another catch: not all recycling centers accept wearables. So you can’t just drop it off “anywhere” and call it a day.
Letting that old smartwatch sit in a drawer isn’t as harmless as it seems.
Know what happens?
You miss the chance to recover valuable materials—lithium, cobalt, nickel—that could be reused. And if those batteries make it to a landfill, they can take centuries to break down and do real harm to the planet.
Let’s cut to the chase—here are your best options:
Technology shouldn’t leave a mess behind. Next time you upgrade your smartwatch, remember:
You have the power to give your device a better ending.
Recycle it, return it, pass it on. So the next time you check the time, let it be a reminder—change starts with small decisions.
Let’s be real: in 2025, recycling your old tech isn’t just about “being green” anymore. It’s a smart way to save money and stay ahead in a world where everyone’s always looking for the next upgrade. Got a drawer full of old phones, laptops gathering dust, or mystery cables you haven’t touched in years? Believe it or not, there’s hidden cash sitting right there.
The main idea is simple: recycling electronics doesn’t just help the planet—it’s a real way to put money back in your pocket. But how does this work, and is it really worth it? Let’s break it down.
The US e-waste recycling market is bigger than ever, and millennials (plus Gen Z) are leading the charge. According to Statista, the US electronic recycling rate passed 40% in 2024, with a big boost from brands and retailers offering trade-in incentives and cash-back programs.
Here’s where things get practical: trade-in and buyback programs. Major brands like Apple, Best Buy, and Amazon all let you swap out old devices for store credit or discounts on new ones. It’s one of the easiest ways to cut costs when upgrading your phone, tablet, or laptop.
For example, Apple’s Trade In program can get you anywhere from $100 to over $500 for your used iPhone, depending on the model and condition. The same goes for tablets, smartwatches, and gaming consoles. It’s fast, transparent, and way better than letting unused tech pile up at home.
It’s not just tech giants jumping in. Startups like EcoATM have kiosks across the US where you can drop off old phones and get cash on the spot.
Most people think recycling only applies to phones and laptops, but today you can recycle everything from headphones, tablets, and smartwatches to old routers. Many retailers are expanding their accepted items—some even take cables, chargers, and random accessories. Check your favorite store’s website to see what they’ll accept.
Worried about privacy? You’re not alone. The good news: most established programs (Apple, Best Buy, etc.) guarantee your data will be wiped before recycling any device. If you want to do it yourself, there are clear guides from Consumer Reports.
Another myth: recycling isn’t worth it financially. In 2025, many companies will even accept broken devices for parts and still offer some credit, maybe not much, but better than nothing.
Bottom line: recycling your old tech is the smartest way to save, refresh your devices, and help reduce environmental impact. More brands and local businesses are joining in, and incentives are only getting better.
So, what are you waiting for? That drawer of forgotten gadgets might just be your next big saving.
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