2026: the year of circular IT - sustainable from start to finish

When it comes to sustainability, many organisations still think of the last piece: recycling. But true corporate responsibility starts earlier - with conscious procurement, smart management and safe disposal. That is precisely where the power of circular IT lies. Not as a separate initiative, but as an integrated part of your lifecycle policy.

And if it is up to us, 2026 will be the year when IT management also undergoes a sustainable transformation.

Start at the end

Let's be clear right away: a laptop that is written off is (usually) not worthless. On the contrary. It often has residual capacity, always contains valuable resources, and - perhaps more importantly - data that deserves protection. Because where hardware disappears, data often remains ‘somewhere’. And it is precisely this blind spot that leads to AVG violations, data breaches and reputational damage.

This is why a circular IT policy starts with security. Reuzado offers certified data destruction (both software-based and physical), enabling reuse - safely, responsibly and with minimal CO2 impact. With every device given a second life, we save raw materials and avoid unnecessary e-waste.

And that second life? That is more often possible than thought. Much hardware written off in high-performance environments is still perfectly usable in organisations with less technical requirements - such as schools, healthcare institutions or social enterprises. Sometimes even a third time. As long as the data are securely destroyed and the devices technically checked, they are far from at the end of their life.

From first use to second chance

Circular IT is not just something for the disposal phase. You can already make sustainable choices at the procurement stage too. Think about high-quality refurbished equipment and, in any case, collaborate with partners who can measure and minimise CO2 impact over the entire lifecycle.

By thinking about the end from the beginning, IT becomes more sustainable and cost-efficient. And let's be honest: a good residual value at the end of the road is a nice bonus - for the planet and the CFO.

CSRD and compliance: more than a tick box

With the advent of the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), reporting on environmental impact is no longer an optional story. More and more organisations are required to show how sustainably they operate - including the management of their IT assets.

Reuzado supports companies in this with full CO2 reports and transparent insights into the reuse of raw materials and equipment. This makes sustainability measurable and provable.

Make 2026 the tipping point from promise to policy.

Whether you are an IT manager, sustainability consultant or facilities manager: your choices will make a difference. And 2026 offers the chance to put circular IT on the map as ‘normal’ rather than special. Get in touch with Reuzado. Together, we will make circular IT not a promise, but a policy.

Sustainability only really becomes sustainable when we look at the whole process. From purchase to farewell. From start to restart.