Sustainability in the company: Why we rely on used hardware
Sustainable, economical, and often even the better choice
sustainability in business means far more than individual measures. With our Mission Forest , we are actively involved in reforestation projects and complement our sustainability efforts by offsetting unavoidable CO₂ emissions. At the same time, we believe that sustainable action begins with small steps. Many everyday decisions can, in their totality, make a noticeable difference. One such decision for us is the conscious use of pre-owned business hardware. In this way, we extend the life cycle of high-quality devices, conserve resources, and combine ecological responsibility with sound business practices.
Our experience with this has been consistently positive. The market for used business hardware has developed enormously in recent years. Many devices are now virtually indistinguishable from new ones – apart perhaps from minor signs of wear.
Sustainability in the company through longer use of high-quality IT hardware
1. Conserve resources instead of producing new ones
Every laptop, PC, and smartphone requires valuable raw materials, energy, and production capacity for its manufacture. Continuing to use an existing device significantly extends its lifespan.
Of course, we don't believe that we can save the world from Germany alone. But we are convinced that every now and then we can lead by example and motivate others to make similar decisions and establish sustainability within their companies.
2. More performance for less money
A particularly strong argument is the price-performance ratio.
We recently had to purchase a replacement device again. Our previous system had reached the end of its lifespan after many years of faithful service.
The offer for a new device was sobering: less power, more entry-level – and yet still more expensive than the used device we ultimately bought.
For less money, we were able to purchase a high-quality business device that is more in line with professional or expert class quality.
3. Business hardware is built for continuous use
Many used devices come from businesses, lease returns, or professional IT environments. Examples include series such as Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, Dell Precision, HP EliteBook, and HP ZBook.
These devices were originally designed for daily business operations and often offer:
- more robust housings
- higher quality components
- improved maintainability
- higher reliability
- longer spare parts availability
4. The fear of the first scratch disappears
One point that is rarely discussed: With a brand new device, one often gets annoyed by every small sign of wear and tear.
Professionally refurbished hardware sometimes already has minor traces of wear. And frankly, such traces will appear sooner or later in daily use anyway.
The advantage: The "first scratch" is often already taken care of. You use the device more pragmatically and concentrate on what really matters – performance and reliability.
5. Our experiences have been consistently positive
We have been buying used hardware irregularly for six to seven years and almost exclusively refurbished devices for at least four years.
We have had no negative experiences so far. On the contrary: the devices have been reliable, efficient, and economically convincing.
How used hardware promotes sustainability in the company
Immediate availability
While new devices sometimes have long delivery times, many refurbished systems are available immediately.
Less electronic waste
Every device that is reused reduces electronic waste and extends the lifespan of valuable resources.
Professional quality control
Reputable vendors thoroughly inspect, clean, and test devices before reselling them. Often,
a warranty is also included.
Contribution to the circular economy
Refurbished hardware supports the circular economy because products are used for longer before new
resources are consumed.
Our recommendations for used hardware
We have had good experiences with the following providers:
As with any purchase, it's worth taking a look at the warranty conditions, the device's condition, and customer reviews.
Our conclusion
For us, used hardware is no longer an alternative – it has become the standard.
We obtain high-quality business equipment at attractive prices, conserve resources and extend the service life of existing technology.
At the same time, we benefit from professional hardware that is often more robust and durable than many current entry-level models.
Anyone who hasn't yet had experience with refurbished hardware should give it a try. There's a good chance they'll be pleasantly surprised.
We are convinced that sustainability in a company is not achieved through a few large-scale measures, but through many conscious decisions made every day. Whether through our "Mission Forest," the CO₂ compensation of unavoidable emissions, or the use of second-hand business hardware – every contribution counts. Anyone wishing to learn more about sustainable business management will find a wealth of information, guidelines, and suggestions for practical implementation on the German Federal Environment Agency 's website
