Sustainability through refurbishment

A chance

for society and the planet

Initial situation

The problem of electronic waste is growing worldwide - millions of functional devices end up in the rubbish bin every year. At the same time, digitalisation is progressing inexorably, but not everyone has the same access to modern technology. Socially disadvantaged groups in particular, including people on low incomes or older people, are often excluded from digital participation. The recycling of used laptops in combination with the targeted distribution to Swiss people living in poverty is a solution that combines ecological sustainability with social responsibility.

Electronic waste: a global problem

Every year, over 50 million tonnes of electronic waste are produced worldwide, of which only a fraction is properly recycled. Old laptops contain valuable raw materials such as gold, silver, copper and rare earths, the mining of which is harmful to the environment. If functioning devices are disposed of prematurely, not only is unnecessary waste produced, but valuable resources are also wasted.

Extend service life

Refurbishing used laptops makes a significant contribution to reducing electronic waste. Instead of taking devices out of circulation prematurely, they are cleaned, repaired and refurbished. This extends the life of the devices by several years. This process saves raw materials and energy that would otherwise be needed for the production of new hardware.

Advantages of reprocessing:

• Reduction of environmental pollution through less electronic waste
• Conservation of valuable raw materials by reusing existing materials
• Energy saving by avoiding new production processes

Challenges for wLw

Broker: Indirect competition

Until now, companies have generally used brokers to refurbish their used laptops and pass them on to buyers. In doing so, they help to reduce electronic waste and promote access to affordable technology. However, brokering also has disadvantages: the high costs for refurbishment and resale reduce the attractiveness of the offer. The high costs also drive up the purchase price for end customers. Last but not least, there is hardly any social benefit to this process.

Supplementing the broker model with digital inclusion

In an increasingly digital society, access to IT devices is essential for education, finding a job and social participation. However, many low-income households cannot afford their own laptop. This is where Wir lernen weiter comes in by providing disadvantaged people with affordable refurbished devices.

The refurbishing of laptops by Wir lernen weiter is free of charge and tax-deductible as a donation in kind. By donating to Wir lernen weiter, companies can therefore save the costs of refurbishment and data destruction and at the same time contribute to strengthening society by giving their old devices a social benefit.

Social benefit of the donation to Wir lernen weiter:

• Improving educational opportunities by providing pupils and students with access to digital learning platforms.
• Increase labour market opportunities by handing them over to unemployed people who can use them to write job applications and take part in online training courses.
• Strengthening social integration by facilitating communication with public authorities, family and support networks for all those affected by poverty.

Lack of awareness among potential donors

The lack of awareness of the offer in corporate circles is a hurdle insofar as Wir lernen weiter is dependent on device donations. If the organisation wants to be able to supply the whole of Switzerland, it needs to have a correspondingly large number of devices in stock.
Despite the fact that all the relevant information is already available, many companies are not yet sufficiently aware of the benefits of donating to wLw. This lack of awareness prevents the association from realising the full impact of the concept.

New concept and more resources

To counteract this problem, the basic concept of Wir lernen weiter is being reorganised. The focus will now be on optimising the range and user-friendliness of the ordering and shipping processes. In future, private individuals will be able to place orders directly. This will not only make our offer available throughout Switzerland without being restricted by federalism, but will also maximise the potential in the areas of networking and acquisition.

Advantages of the new concept:

• Create resources by relieving the burden on management and hiring a business developer.
• Optimising offers by emphasising the benefits of donating to Wir lernen weiter and promoting these benefits in a targeted manner.
• Improve acquisition by reviewing existing processes and adapting or increasing measures, as well as increasing our presence at various events.

These adjustments not only optimise awareness, but also increase efficiency. Further details on this process can be found in the white paper "Digital inclusion and equal opportunities".

Donor acquisition on a financial level

Self-supporting financing

To date, the Wir lernen weiter association has been completely self-financing through a contribution towards expenses. This amount covers all resources such as spare parts, room hire, infrastructure and staff. In order to continue to utilise and expand these important resources, Wir lernen weiter must have sufficient liquid funds at its disposal.

Find support

Funding from foundations, private donors and patrons is central to this. Here too, the hurdle is the lack of awareness of the organisation. Measures must be taken to increase this awareness.

Summary

Although digital inclusion through the sustainable use of laptops offers many advantages, there are also challenges that Wir lernen weiter has to overcome:

1. Access to used devices
   Many companies dispose of old laptops for data protection reasons or use offers from brokers. However, wLw is dependent on company donations for scaling.
   Solution
   Wir lernen weiter offers free data destruction. To guarantee data protection, wLw creates an audit trail and is certified according to DIN-66399. These factors need to be better advertised.
2. Lack of awareness about the offer
   The above information is already available to companies. Nevertheless, awareness of wLw's offering is still low in corporate circles.
   Solution
   The basic concept of Wir lernen weiter is being reorganised to improve its reach and simplify ordering and shipping processes (see white paper "Digital inclusion and equal opportunities"). In addition, the potential in the areas of networking and acquisition will be increased, for example by hiring a business developer and relieving the burden on management.
3. Sustainable financing
   Many projects rely on donations and grants for funding, including Wir lernen weiter.
   Solution
   The switch to a new concept offers various opportunities for targeted projects that are attractive to potential donors and can be better advertised. The aim is to raise targeted donations that can be invested directly in optimising the offer, expanding it throughout Switzerland and reducing the cost contributions.

Conclusion

Refurbishing used laptops offers numerous benefits both for the environment and for socially disadvantaged people. By extending the service life of the devices, valuable raw materials are conserved and the environmental impact of electronic waste is reduced.

Compared to broker models, which incur high costs, Wir lernen weiter offers a more cost-effective and socially responsible solution. The provision of laptops for low-income households promotes digital inclusion, which is particularly important in the areas of education, job search and social participation.

Challenges such as access to devices and lack of awareness are being addressed through targeted measures and an optimised structure to improve the scaling and impact of Wir lernen weiter.