Tech industry leaders from around the world gathered in Ras Al Khaimah for the ‘Re: Sustainable IT Summit,’ organised by Circular Computing – a British remanufacturer of used laptops with a remanufacturing facility based in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ). The summit drew participation from around 65 global companies, including giants like Microsoft, Dell, HP, Atos, Lenovo, Google, HSBC, Sharaf DG, DHL, Acer, Jacky’s, and Canon.

Circular Computing's event in Ras Al Khaimah drew participation from around 65 global tech giants

One of the key highlights of the event was a survey conducted among IT leaders, which shed light on the importance of sustainable hardware practices in businesses worldwide which explored avenues to circularity in the IT sector.

Discussing the findings, Founder and CEO of Circular Computing Rod Neale said “Our summit was as much a rallying cry as it was an eye opener for those in the driving seat in the tech industry, who I hope now are starting to see remanufacturing as ‘the new’ new – and a way to achieve circularity in the IT sector. Overall, the consensus is clear: pre-used tech will be the future. The question is, how quickly are we going to get there?”

Commenting on the summit’s success, RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “We congratulate Circular Computing on orchestrating such an impactful event in Ras Al Khaimah. This is a step forward in fostering a more sustainable approach within the tech industry, aligning with global environmental goals and promoting circular economy practices in the IT sector. It is essential for both enterprises and individuals in the emirate to embrace and advocate for environmental sustainability. This not only supports the UAE’s initiatives against climate change but also highlights our dedication to sustainable development.”

During the event, speakers urged stakeholders from both the private and public sectors to consider a simple yet effective step toward enhancing their IT infrastructure’s sustainability. They proposed evaluating the actual needs for state-of-the-art laptops versus the feasibility of deploying high-quality remanufactured ones, which could significantly reduce e-waste, lower CO2 emissions, and help organisations meet their 2030 climate targets.

Further illustrating the practical impact of sustainable IT practices, Circular Computing recently signed a USD 33 million landmark contract with the Irish Government to deliver sustainable IT solutions for the next four years. Under this agreement, the company will supply its remanufactured laptops from Ras Al Khaimah to Ireland, further expanding its global footprint and reinforcing the viability of remanufactured technology in meeting modern computing needs. Other EU countries will be watching this move with interest and may look to incorporate into their policies.