Electronics are ubiquitous in today's business world. There are some obvious examples: IT hardware; wired and mobile communications devices. But there are also some less obvious examples: "embedded" electronics in HVAC and building management systems; inventory management systems and devices (e.g., scanners, robotic lifts); power management systems and related devices. Finally, there are highly-specialized examples, such as medical devices, which we aren't really covering here.

Responsible management of all of these electronics is a core aspect of sustainable business practices. From a sustainability standpoint, electronics present significant environmental concerns, primarily because they often contain "substances of very high concern" (SVHCs) and other materials that are known to cause environmental damage (and potential human health impacts). In addition, electronics are significant energy consumers and their energy consumption impacts the output of climate-altering greenhouse gasses.

Often, we hear talk of "reduce, reuse and recycle" when it comes to responsible resource management. But it's pretty hard in today's world to materially reduce the amount of electronics in a business setting. And reuse by the end user is pretty tricky, given the pace of technological innovation (although much of "recycled" electronics is, in fact, reused). So what's a good strategy for managing business electronics in a responsible fashion? There are three key elements:

• Start with sourcing electronics that are known to have reduced environmental impacts throughout their lifecycles: fewer SVHCs, less energy consumption, backed by an end-of-life recycling program. So even if your company's overall volume of electronic devices increases, the total environmental impact will not increase to the same degree.
• Proactively manage the energy consumption of electronics. Train electronics users about minimizing energy consumption (e.g., "turn your computers off at night"). Use technology to minimize "phantom" energy consumption (energy consumed when devices are in stand-by mode).
• Ensure that stand-alone electronics are covered by manufacturer-sponsored take-back programs or can be responsibly recycled through third parties (embedded electronics pose a real recycling challenge). Businesses usually cannot avail themselves of local/municipal recycling programs, so ensuring that there is a commercial conduit for the return of used electronics is essential. In many jurisdictions, you will be heavily penalized for tossing electronics, so do research on local disposal laws.