Inrego makes it possible for IT devices to live on

Inrego maximises the life cycle of IT devices, buying used IT equipment and refurbishing them for sale, resulting in reduced electronic waste and emissions.

Inrego. Circular solutions for nature. — Artemi Varjonen, Berry Creative

Writers

Tim Forslund

Specialist, Sitra International Programmes

Riku Sinervo

Senior Lead, Sitra International Programmes

Published

April 5, 2024

Problem

Manufacturing electronic devices relies on the extraction of finite supplies of minerals. Discarded electronic devices represent a major waste stream, which is often not managed or recycled properly. By not reusing and recycling devices at the end of their useful life, limited natural resources are further depleted, often at sites around which both deforestation and pollution pose major challenges.

Solution

Inrego buys and sells used IT equipment. Their certified process involves buying old IT devices, performing data erasure, testing, repairing and offering refurbished IT devices for sale or rent. The company also presents a Circular IT Compass that guides businesses towards a more sustainable approach, evaluating the environmental and financial benefits of reusing IT over purchasing new devices.

“The life cycles of IT equipment are often not maximised, and there is an important role to be filled by companies with the expertise to assess and certify the state of products and components. This enables the reuse of valuable devices.”
Riku Sinervo and Tim Forslund, Sitra

Biodiversity impacts

Inrego aims to reduce the need for raw material extraction from manufacturing new devices, not least cobalt, aluminium, copper and lithium, which are commonly included in laptops and which can generate direct changes in land use, emissions and local pollution, as well as secondary impacts on ecosystems around mining sites, as these become more accessible for exploitation. Inrego’s solution has the potential to reduce mining of the minerals needed for IT devices. More than 95% of the materials used by Inrego are from secondary origin and Inrego reuses 360,000 IT devices each year.

Benefits for the company

Inrego’s solution can help customers reach both their resource-use and climate targets. Potential financial savings can also be achieved by choosing refurbished IT over new purchases, while Inrego can benefit from long-term customer relationships, as clients can both buy from and sell to Inrego.