World Environment Day 2025 (WED) is June 5 each year, and as it approaches in 2025, the SIE Group encourages all to join the "#BeatPlasticPollution" movement. This is a global call to action that especially matters in the tech world. This year's focus on plastic pollution resonates deeply with our industry, as plastic and electronic waste share a troubling connection: both represent the unseen environmental cost of our modern conveniences, creating mounting disposal challenges that grow more urgent each year.

The latest Global E-Waste Monitor reveals we generated 62 million metric tons of e-waste in 2022, projected to reach 82 million metric tons by 2030. Our discarded devices are accumulating five times faster than our ability to recycle them.

Every laptop, server, and smartphone contain valuable metals, significant plastic components, and potentially hazardous substances. At SIE, we connect organizations with certified ITAD partners who demonstrate how proper IT asset disposition makes a real difference for both organizations and our environment. Industry examples show the potential for significant returns, such as a health system that achieved $180K in annual upside by changing ITAD vendors, demonstrating that responsible IT asset disposition doesn't just protect the environment—it can generate substantial cost savings and drive revenue with the right ITAD partner.

IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) is a comprehensive approach to managing technology throughout its lifecycle, especially at end-of-life. The ITAD market is experiencing significant growth, with the global market projected to expand from $18.7 billion in 2023 to $29.1 billion by 2032, driven by increasing data security concerns and environmental regulations. A thoughtful ITAD strategy involves:

• Inventorying assets and assessing their condition

• Securely wiping all sensitive data using certified data destruction methods

• Refurbishing devices for reuse when possible

• Responsibly recycling components, when necessary, through certified e-waste recycling

• Documenting the entire process for compliance

Done right, IT asset disposition protects both your sensitive information and our environment simultaneously.

When organizations take shortcuts with IT disposal, the consequences are significant and well-documented:

• Toxic materials leach into soil and water

• Valuable resources are wasted instead of recovered

• Carbon footprints increase compared to recycling options

• New raw material demand rises, driving additional mining impacts

• Data breaches and massive regulatory fines can result from improper disposal

Research by the World Health Organization shows that improper e-waste disposal can release up to 1,000 different chemical substances into the environment, including known neurotoxicants such as lead. In the United States, the SEC fined Morgan Stanley $35 million in 2022 after the financial services firm hired a moving company with no data destruction experience to decommission thousands of hard drives and servers containing personal information of 15 million customers. The devices were sold to third parties and auctioned online with unencrypted customer data intact, demonstrating how improper IT disposal can lead to massive data breaches and regulatory penalties.

This year's World Environment Day focus on plastic pollution aligns perfectly with responsible IT asset management. Hosted by the Republic of Korea, the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign calls for collective action through sustainable practices that drive systemic change.

Responsible ITAD conserves valuable natural resources, reduces plastic waste from IT equipment, prevents hazardous materials from contaminating landfills, lowers carbon emissions associated with new device manufacturing, and supports the circular economy through extended device lifecycles.

SIE works with organizations to implement these proven ITAD strategies through our certified partner network:

Organizations that implement comprehensive IT asset disposition strategies see measurable benefits. Industry examples demonstrate the potential returns, such as one health system that achieved $180K in annual upside by changing ITAD vendors—and they're still working with their new partner 8 years later, proving that proper ITAD is an investment, not just a cost. SIE’s network of certified ITAD partners consistently delivers similar measurable outcomes for organizations seeking these types of results.

Industry examples show the effectiveness of proper ITAD practices, such as a $22.5 billion American gaming software company with UK operations that successfully disposed of 188 hard drives and 79 other data-bearing devices through secure on-site destruction and certified recycling. This demonstrates how certified ITAD providers ensure both data security and environmental compliance while providing complete transparency through real-time asset tracking—the type of professional service SIE connects organizations with through our partner network.

At SIE, we connect organizations with certified ITAD specialists to ensure your technology assets are handled responsibly.

This World Environment Day 2025, take a meaningful step toward sustainable IT practices. Contact SIE for a complimentary IT Asset Disposition consultation. Together with our specialized partners, we can help reduce your e-waste footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.