“They’re going to check up on that.”
This stark warning from Telefónica Tech’s Janice Phayre isn’t about school homework – it’s about your company’s ESG claims. The days of treating Environmental, Social, and Governance commitments as a nice marketing exercise are firmly behind us. As recent changes to the Procurement Act make clear, organisations must now prove their ESG credentials, particularly when competing for public sector contracts.
Why ESG Matters Now More Than Ever
This year’s changes to the Procurement Act have fundamentally shifted the ESG landscape. Gone are the days when vague sustainability promises were enough. As Phayre bluntly puts it, “You have to be able to prove to the client [you’ve done] what you said you were able to do.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Shola Sullivan from NTT Data Business UK&I warned in the same IT Channel Oxygen podcast that businesses without robust ESG frameworks risk “fines, lawsuits and other regulatory issues.” Sullivan has witnessed a “huge increase of ESG questionnaires” not just from potential clients but from “existing customers and partners” too, adding that she believes this scrutiny “is only going to increase over time.”
The message is clear: ESG is no longer optional. It’s a business imperative.
How Tier1 is Leading the Way in ESG
As sustainability trailblazers with over 30 years of industry experience, Tier1 has embedded ESG principles into the very core of our business operations. Our approach to IT lifecycle management combines environmental responsibility, social impact, and robust governance to help organisations meet and exceed their ESG objectives.
Environmental Leadership
Tier1’s commitment to environmental stewardship is evident in our circular approach to IT asset management:
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: Our refurbished laptops save approximately 225kg CO2e compared to buying new devices – a 75% reduction in carbon footprint per device.
- Zero Landfill Policy: We’re proud to maintain a zero-landfill commitment, ensuring that 0% of devices processed by Tier1 find their way to landfill.
- Extending Device Lifecycle: By refurbishing high-quality enterprise equipment, we extend the usable life of IT assets, significantly reducing e-waste and resource consumption.
- Water Conservation: A refurbished laptop saves approximately 190,000 litres of water compared to manufacturing a new device.
Social Value Leadership
Our social impact initiatives go beyond compliance to create meaningful change:
- Award-Winning Prison Workshop Programme: Operating since 2011, our innovative recycling project at HMP Hindley provides inmates with valuable skills training. The programme has supported more than 170 members, with 60% gaining employment and an incredible 0% reoffending rate (compared to the national average of 36%).
- Living Wage Employer: Tier1 has supported the Living Wage initiative since 2015, ensuring all staff receive fair compensation.
- King’s Award for Enterprise: We were honoured to receive this prestigious award for promoting opportunity through social mobility.
- Apprenticeship Scheme: Our programme supports career development, with apprentices progressing to roles including Operations Director, Web Merchandiser, Operations Team Leader, and Graduate Sales Member.
Governance and Compliance
Tier1’s robust governance framework ensures accountability and transparency:
- Industry-Leading Accreditations: We are the UK’s most accredited IT Asset Disposal organisation, with certifications including ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, 45001, 22301, BS 7858, BS 15713, ADISA, and Cyber Essentials Plus.
- Secure Facilities: Our 70,000 sq. ft facilities in Manchester and Maldon are approved to MOD standards, providing the highest level of security for your IT assets.
- Comprehensive Reporting: We provide detailed environmental impact reports and full audit trails for all IT assets, supporting your compliance requirements and making it easy to track Scope 3 emissions.
Supporting Your ESG Goals
When you partner with Tier1, you’re not just managing your IT assets – you’re advancing your ESG objectives:
- Controlling Scope 3 Emissions: Our detailed reporting helps you track and manage your Scope 3 emissions, an increasingly important aspect of corporate sustainability reporting.
- Participating in the Circular Economy: Our refurbishment and reuse model embodies circular economy principles, helping you demonstrate tangible commitment to sustainable business practices.
- Enhancing Social Value: By working with Tier1, you’re supporting our social initiatives, which can contribute to your organisation’s social value reporting.
- Meeting Compliance Requirements: Our comprehensive security and compliance frameworks help you meet regulatory standards while maintaining the highest levels of data protection.
The Cost Benefits of ESG with Tier1
Beyond the environmental and social benefits, our approach to IT lifecycle management offers significant cost advantages:
- Reduced Procurement Costs: Our 80/10/10 model (80% new equipment, 10% refurbished devices, 10% existing kit refurbished and redeployed) can save organisations approximately 15% on IT procurement costs.
- Value Recovery: Our expert grading, assessment, and refurbishment processes extract the highest possible value from retired IT assets.
- Extended Device Lifecycle: By maintaining and refurbishing existing equipment, we help you extend the useful life of your IT assets, reducing replacement costs.
A Partner for Your ESG Journey
As the IT Channel Oxygen article highlighted, organisations are now expected to provide evidence of their ESG commitments and achievements. With Tier1 as your IT lifecycle partner, you gain more than just industry-leading IT asset services – you gain a strategic ally in advancing your environmental, social, and governance goals.
Our approach transforms IT asset disposal from a compliance necessity into a strategic, value-adding process that contributes meaningfully to your ESG objectives while delivering tangible business benefits.
Whether you’re just beginning your ESG journey or looking to enhance your existing initiatives, Tier1 provides the expertise, infrastructure, and commitment to help you succeed in an increasingly ESG-focused business landscape.
Ready to transform your approach to IT lifecycle management while advancing your ESG goals? Contact Tier1 today at 0161 777 1000 or service@tier1.com to learn more about our services and how we can support your organisation’s sustainability journey.
