In its sustainability policy, Radboud University has set itself several goals, including promoting circularity and contributing to sustainable supply chains through responsible procurement. The collaboration with hardware supplier Dustin and social enterprise Closing the Loop contributes to these goals.
And the great thing is that the university doesn't have to do much. ‘It's all handled by our regular hardware supplier, Dustin. They maintain contact with Closing the Loop,’ says Maykel Kerkhoff, a member of the Helpdesk Team. ‘It's a simple way to make a big impact.’
More jobs, less electronic waste
For all hardware purchased by Radboud University, Dustin donates an amount to Closing the Loop to offset the purchase. Closing the Loop then spends this money on collecting the same amount of electronic waste that the purchase would have generated. They do this in African countries such as Ghana, where many small businesses repair hardware such as phones, but where the infrastructure to recycle all the parts is lacking. Closing the Loop supplies the usable materials to these repair companies and transports the unusable materials to factories that separate the electronic waste. In this way, they contribute to employment and reduce electronic waste in African countries.
When hardware from Radboud University is no longer usable, Dustin comes by to collect the devices and dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner. ‘Whereas we used to have different partners for the purchase and disposal of hardware, Dustin can now take old hardware with them when they deliver new hardware. That saves a lot of transport to and from the campus.’
It is not yet known how much the partnerships with Dustin and Closing the Loop have already yielded in terms of sustainability gains, as the partnerships are still in their infancy. ‘But given the university's sustainability ambitions, we are well on our way.’
