The hidden costs of the old model

The traditional refresh cycle looks simple: buy new, depreciate, replace. But beneath the surface, the consequences are far-reaching.

• CO₂-intensive production: for servers and storage, around 50% of their total footprint comes from manufacturing. Every unnecessary replacement doubles the impact.

• E-waste: data centers discard tons of hardware that could still perform reliably. Only part is recycled properly; much is exported as waste.

• Budget pressure: replacing infrastructure can easily cost hundreds of thousands, even millions. Money that could be spent on security or innovation.

• Operational risk: large refresh cycles bring migration stress, downtime, and adoption problems.

This linear model—purchase, use, discard—no longer fits the reality of CSRD reporting, ESG goals, and the pressure to reduce costs.

From linear to circular thinking

Circularity doesn’t mean “dragging along old hardware.” It means extending, reusing, and only replacing when absolutely necessary.

With Circular Hardware Lifecycle Management (CHLM), the focus shifts from buying to fully utilizing. The core:

• Servers can run safely up to 8 years.

• Storage can last up to 10 years.

• Networking equipment up to 12 years.

With the right support, monitoring, and strategies, systems remain reliable without new pallets of equipment entering and exiting the data center every few years.

Four pillars of CHLM

At SAVE DCS, we turn circularity into a concrete process. Not loose advice, but an approach that covers the entire journey:

• Inventory – mapping infrastructure: specifications, status, CO₂ footprint, risks.

• Analysis & roadmap – translating data into strategy and predictable, measurable plans.

• Implementation – executing safely: extend first, reuse second, recycle only as a last step.

• Monitoring & reporting – annual updates, delivering measurable results and CSRD-ready reports.

The numbers behind circularity

Why extend instead of replace? Because the impact is measurable.

• CO₂ reduction: by keeping 500 devices in service longer, you avoid enormous production emissions. On average:

  • Servers: ~2,000 kg CO₂ each

  • Storage systems: ~2,500–3,000 kg CO₂ each

  • Networking: ~1,500–2,000 kg CO₂ each
    → That adds up to more than 1,000 tons of CO₂ avoided by skipping production.

• Cost savings: extending and reusing saves 30–50% compared to a full refresh.

• E-waste reduction: tons of hardware waste are postponed and significantly reduced.

These numbers make circularity tangible—not only for sustainability officers but also for CFOs and CIOs.

Closing the gap between IT and sustainability

In many organizations, IT teams and sustainability officers work in silos. IT focuses on uptime, sustainability on reporting. The result? Misalignment and missed opportunities.

CHLM bridges that gap:

• IT gains confidence that infrastructure remains reliable.

• Sustainability teams receive the verified data needed for CSRD.

• Management sees cost savings and CO₂ reduction in hard numbers.

One strategy, two worlds connected.

Beyond recycling: the real priority

Recycling sounds sustainable, but it’s the last resort. Value is lost once hardware is destroyed for materials.

The real win is earlier:

1. Extend wherever possible.

2. Reuse devices within or across organizations.

3. Recycle only when nothing else works.

With CHLM, this order becomes the standard.

Practical example (fictional but realistic)

A mid-sized financial institution in 2024 faced a full refresh of its data center: an estimated €4 million in new servers and storage.

Inventory showed that 70% of the infrastructure could last another 3–5 years. With CHLM, the plan shifted: extend, reuse, replace only when necessary.

Result:

• Investment dropped by €2.1 million.

• Production-related emissions dropped by ~600 tons CO₂ because new equipment was not produced.

• Around 13 tons of e-waste were postponed, meaning devices will enter the waste stream much later—likely when recycling techniques are more advanced.

• Their CSRD reporting gained a clear, tangible case.

This is not an exception but increasingly the rule.

Why 2025 is the tipping point

The upcoming refresh wave forces a choice:

• Stick to the old model: high costs, rising e-waste, poor reports.

• Shift to circularity: predictable budgets, measurable CO₂ savings, future-proof infrastructure.

With CSRD deadlines looming and IT budgets under scrutiny, 2025 is the year when “buy new” is no longer justifiable.

The role of SAVE DCS

SAVE DCS helps organizations make IT infrastructure circular and measurable. Our strength lies in full-service delivery:

• We map everything.

• We build the roadmap.

• We implement safely.

• We monitor and report annually.

Circularity becomes concrete, not a side project.

Conclusion & CTA

The refresh wave of 2025 forces organizations to decide: stay trapped in linear buying cycles, or embrace Circular Hardware Lifecycle Management and keep servers, storage, and networking running longer—cutting costs and emissions at once.

Curious what this means for your organization? Discover how much you can save in costs, CO₂, and e-waste. Get in touch for a tailored analysis.