IT Circular Economy
How can circular economy principles improve everyday IT decisions?
This e-learning introduces circular economy in IT and shows how it can be applied in practice. You will learn why devices are often replaced too early, how digital technologies drive resource consumption and e-waste, and how the life-cycle perspective and 10R strategies support more circular IT management.
After completing the course, you will be able to apply circular thinking to IT decisions and identify practical improvements in your own systems and processes.
Introduction to Circular Economy in IT
Why are many IT devices replaced even though they still work perfectly?
In this introduction, you will explore how device turnover, software dependencies, and electronic waste are connected to broader resource flows in the global economy. You will also get a short introduction to circular economy and the life‑cycle perspective used to understand where environmental impacts occur across the lifespan of digital technologies.
The aim is to provide a clear starting point for understanding why circular thinking is becoming increasingly relevant for IT decisions.
Video duration: ~ 10 minutes
10R Strategies for the IT Industry
How can circular economy ideas be applied in everyday IT decisions?
This session introduces the 10R strategies, a structured framework for rethinking how digital products and resources are designed, used, and managed.
You will explore how the strategies Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover help organizations reduce resource consumption and extend the lifetime of IT equipment.
Short practice questions and exercises invite you to reflect on your own work environment and consider where devices, tools, or processes could be used more efficiently or for longer.
Video duration: ~ 37 minutes
After completing both videos, you will understand how IT decisions influence resource use, apply life-cycle thinking in your work, and use the 10R strategies to identify concrete opportunities for more circular IT practices.