Colt Technology Services reinforces customer ESG commitments

As part of its commitment to building sustainable networks of the future, Colt is exploring its contribution to the circular economy, working with metals recycling company Urban Miners to analyse its decommissioned SDH legacy IT equipment and understand which materials can be reused or recycled. In a recent pilot programme in Sweden, 99.4% of its equipment was either recyclable or reusable, amounting to 8.7 metric tonnes in weight and enabling 19 tonnes of CO2 savings. Colt is now extending the pilot with Urban Miners to analyse and extract precious metals from its hardware in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Colt is also partnering with carbon removal company Supercritical to invest in vetted carbon removal initiatives. Colt customers will be able to count a share of these carbon removal credit purchases towards their carbon removal climate targets in their sustainability reporting. The programme makes use of a technology called biochar – an organic substance that stores carbon while improving soil health, lasting over 1,000 years, and is endorsed by governing bodies across the globe 1. Supercritical scientists apply rigorous vetting procedures to their carbon removal projects before they are included in their platform.

Marcus Lapp, Director Global IT Infrastructure Operations for Esprit said, “We are constantly in contact with our partners to make the purchase of our products and solutions as sustainable as possible, both in production but also in IT. With Colt, we work with a company that pursues ambitious ESG goals on its own initiative and implements corresponding measures. This helps us in our sustainability efforts.”

Sebastian Michel-Wildner, Senior Director Category Communications, Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA said, “Highly topical issues such as IT connectivity and sustainability have one thing in common: they are strategic issues that globally operating companies need to address. With Colt, we have a partner whose solutions help us to communicate and connect in a better way and who supports our sustainability efforts with its own corporate philosophy.”

Gustaf Dyrssen, Owner, Urban Miners said, “Urban Miners is working with Colt to recover legacy equipment across Europe. We are being given free hands and challenged by Colt to improve both reuse and recycling levels. In the most recent Nodes, we reached 100% recovery rate and now pursue further optimising of transport and material blends. It is a privilege to help Colt make a contribution towards a more sustainable world.”

Caroline Griffin Pain, Chief Legal Officer, Colt Technology Services said, “Our research has shown us that understanding and reducing the impact of digital infrastructure on the environment are critical priorities for global IT leaders. At Colt, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to influence these goals: to take action and drive lasting change. Partnering with these two exciting and groundbreaking companies, Urban Miners and Supercritical, will help Colt and our customers to drive real progress on our journeys to Net Zero.”