Our objectives
In 2025:
- The university follows the '10R' circularity model when procuring IT equipment;
- More than 50% of used appliances will be reused for another user;
- At least 70% of end-of-life appliances will be treated in a high-quality manner;
- The average useful life of appliances has been significantly extended and more repairs are being carried out;
- More than 75% of users know what Radboud University is doing in terms of circular hardware, are aware of their actions and choose the sustainable option;
- There is a better understanding of the climate impact of IT at Radboud University;
- There is a handbook on how to use IT sustainably in your work/study.
In 2030:
- The 10R circularity model will be used alongside qualitative, financial and customer satisfaction aspects and will be the standard for all our procurement and maintenance contracts;
- Appliance repair is the norm: all appliances are maximised thanks to repairs;
- It is the norm to sustainably reuse the used appliances that are released and still functioning with another user;
- Will at least 90% of discarded appliances be treated in a high-quality manner.
Where we are now
- A Green Team has been established within the Information & Library Services division. This Green Team acts as a booster in making ICT more sustainable at Radboud University;
- Work laptops, computers and phones are no longer replaced when their economic life has expired but when they are beyond repair or cannot be adequately secured;
- There is less and less printing: compared to 2020, there is 60% less printing. The number of printing devices on campus has fallen from 300 to 238 machines;
- A reseller for person-to-person hardware has been selected, with sustainable operations being decisive for the award;
- There is a collection point for old computer equipment so that it can be reused: Radboud Recycle in the University Library;
- ICT waste is sent to the regular recycling partner. This dismantles the data carrier and ensures proper, safe and environmentally aware processing of the raw materials. 60% of the equipment offered is reused.
This is what we are going to do
- We are currently very focused on the ILS and mainly on laptops and computers, but we are pulling this wider, to other ICT equipment and services as well;
- Putting the strategy for personalised hardware into practice, and informing students and staff about it;
- Launch an annual data clean-up campaign;
- Creating a handbook for the campus on sustainable use of IT facilities;
- Mapping the climate impact of our ICT facilities and data storage.
How can you help?
Act digitally sustainable:
- Turn off your appliances at the end of the working or study day. This way, they do not consume unnecessary power;
- If you work from home: make sure you haven't set up a double workstation, but that you can take the work laptop home with you;
- Turn in your old laptop for reuse. You can do this via Radboud Recycle in the University Library;
- Buy refurbished rather than new equipment. See https://www.daansmagazijn.nl/ and https://www.surfspot.nl/ru;
- Make sure you only store important data and clean your storage regularly;
- Put your appliances on eco mode to save energy.