The true sustainable benefits of refurbished equipment
Sustainability is becoming a central priority for industrial companies worldwide. While many organisations focus on reducing energy consumption or switching to renewable sources, another powerful and often overlooked solution lies in the refurbishment of industrial electronics. According to Micha Klaarenbeek, Managing Partner and Lead Impact Analyst at Ecoras, refurbished equipment can significantly reduce the environmental impact of industrial operations.
Through detailed lifecycle analysis, Klaarenbeek has helped quantify the real sustainability benefits of refurbished electronics, providing companies with measurable data to support more circular procurement decisions.
Moving from a linear to a circular economy
Traditional industrial production has long followed a linear economic model in which raw materials are extracted, products are manufactured, used and eventually discarded. This approach puts increasing pressure on natural resources and contributes to growing volumes of electronic waste.
Klaarenbeek believes refurbishment offers a practical alternative. “Companies increasingly want to move away from the linear economic model of take, make and waste,” he explains. “There is growing awareness that transitioning to a circular economy is essential to prevent the depletion of critical raw materials and reduce environmental pollution.”
By extending the lifespan of existing equipment, refurbishment reduces the need for virgin materials and significantly lowers the amount of electronic waste entering the global waste stream.
Measuring the environmental impact
To demonstrate the environmental benefits of refurbishment, Klaarenbeek conducted a detailed Life Cycle Assessment on an industrial Human Machine Interface. The process involved dismantling the device and analysing each component individually in order to calculate its environmental footprint.
“We wanted to understand the environmental impact of an average HMI that is refurbished,” Klaarenbeek explains. “That meant identifying every component and calculating the materials and energy required to manufacture it.” Using this information, a digital twin of the product lifecycle was created. This allowed researchers to analyse the environmental impact of the device from raw material extraction through production, transport, refurbishment and end of life processing.
Significant reductions in emissions and resources
The results of the analysis demonstrate the clear sustainability advantages of refurbishment. According to Klaarenbeek, the total lifecycle emissions of a refurbished HMI are dramatically lower than those of a newly manufactured device. “The reduction in CO2 emissions from using refurbished industrial electronics can reach fifty percent, and in some cases even up to ninety percent,” he says.
In the case of the analysed HMI, the overall climate impact was reduced by eighty seven percent. A new device generated approximately 150 kilograms of CO2 equivalent emissions, while the refurbished version produced only around 20 kilograms. Beyond carbon emissions, refurbishment also reduces the consumption of minerals, metals, water and fossil resources, all of which are required in large quantities during the production of new electronics.
Social and environmental benefits
The advantages of refurbishment extend beyond environmental impact. Electronic waste is often exported to developing countries where dismantling takes place under unsafe and exploitative conditions. By extending the lifespan of industrial electronics, refurbishment helps reduce the amount of discarded equipment entering these informal recycling systems.
In addition, refurbishment reduces the use of water, chemicals and raw materials associated with manufacturing new devices, contributing to a more sustainable industrial ecosystem.
Data driven sustainability decisions
For companies working to meet sustainability targets, reliable data is essential. Lifecycle assessments such as the one conducted by Klaarenbeek provide organisations with measurable evidence of the environmental benefits of refurbished equipment.
The findings make a compelling case for refurbishment as part of a circular industrial strategy. By combining economic advantages with substantial environmental savings, refurbished electronics offer companies a practical way to reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining operational reliability. As Klaarenbeek concludes, the data clearly shows that refurbishment can play a significant role in building a more sustainable industrial future.
