Lenovo destroys data, not the planet

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 30 Oct 2008 at 12:13

Lenovo has launched a new scheme under which it will buy back old hardware from customers, securely destroy data and either refurbish and reuse it, or cleanly recycle it.

The Lenovo Asset Recovery Services (ARS) will see customers receive around 10% to 15% of the original purchase price of the equipment after three years of use, but will also provide a secure and environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted technology.

"We are finding that more and more of our customers are concerned about what to do with old electronics and have specific requirements for equipment take-back and disposal when purchasing new PCs," says Feargal MacConuladh, vice president of services at Lenovo.

"We are focused on greening the entire lifecycle of our computers, from increasing the lifespan and designing for upgradeability to improving energy efficiency and providing environmentally-responsible disposal."

The scheme was launched in the US and Canada in June this year, but its availability in the UK is expected to increase customer return of hardware by 30%. In 2007 Lenovo oversaw the return of 17,000 tonnes of hardware, although much of this was outsourced.

Companies are under increasing pressure not only to become more environmentally friendly, but also to better protect data, especially that relating to partners or customers.

Since 2004 all electronics manufacturers in Europe have been required to accept the return of electrical goods from private users and to dispose of them in an ecologically sound manner, under the WEEE Directive.