When carbon costs exceed 10% of your hardware budget—will you be ready?
“We just wanted to replace a few dozen laptops. But once we looked into transport routes, emissions, and repairability—we realised our entire procurement process was unsustainable.”
— Ben, IT Manager at a mid-sized accounting firm in Brisbane, sharing what happened during their first carbon footprint audit.
In 2025 Australia, IT procurement is no longer just about performance and price. It’s about meeting legal obligations, minimising carbon risk, accessing incentives, and reinforcing your company’s ESG credibility. This guide walks you through five key actions to make your IT procurement strategy greener—and smarter.
1.Start with Compliance: Avoid penalties, unlock subsidies
- GEMS Energy Rating requires laptops and monitors to meet a minimum 4-star rating
- NTCRS mandates that only registered suppliers (e.g. Dell, HP) qualify for free recycling
- NECP update: Tier 2 energy standards for data centre equipment are taking effect—non-compliant gear will be a liability
| Label | Why it matters | Sample brands |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Active | Certified carbon neutral | Microsoft AU, Telstra |
| Climate Positive | Removes more carbon than emitted | Atlassian |
| Australian Made | Locally assembled, lower transport emissions | Southern Cross PC (QLD) |
2.Localise Your Supply Chain: Cut carbon and increase agility
Proven: Local sourcing reduces emissions by up to 18%—and shortens delivery lead times.
Recommended Australian partners:
- Renewed Computers: Refurbished enterprise laptops, 3-year warranty, ~50% cheaper than new
- Green IT Australia: Trade-in programs for SMEs
- Cirrus Computers: Servers powered entirely by renewables
- Framework Laptop (AU): Modular devices with repairable components and local support
Contract clauses to include:
Ship from Sydney or Melbourne warehouse only (no international freight)
Specify sea freight preferred over air freight (12x less CO2 emissions)
3️.Sustainable ≠ Expensive: Spend smarter, not more
Sustainable choices often save money—if you know where to look.
Available financial incentives:
| Program | Benefit | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Asset Write-Off | Full deduction up to $20,000 | ATO |
| VIC Recycling Fund | Up to 50% rebate on e-waste disposal | Sustainability VIC |
| NSW Net Zero Plan | $5,000 carbon audit subsidy | Energy NSW |
What if you ignore sustainability?
- With carbon priced at $38/tonne CO₂e, high-emission devices could cost 7–15% more over their lifecycle
- From 2024, brands failing to comply with Right to Repair laws may be excluded from public procurement
4.Climate Matters: Choose hardware that’s built for Australia
| Challenge | What to look for | Example product |
|---|---|---|
| Inland heat | Operates at 45°C, IP6X dustproof | Panasonic TOUGHBOOK 40 |
| Coastal corrosion | Magnesium alloy chassis | HP EliteBook 800 G10 |
| Off-grid power | Supports 12V DC input | Lenovo Z16 / HP Elite x360 |
Don’t have an in-house ESG team? Start simple:
- Seeed Studio sensor: AU$89 for real-time heat/humidity alerts
- Pathzero platform: Track your IT carbon footprint and plug into ESG reports
5️.Build a Closed-Loop System: Buy, use, retire—responsibly
Ben’s team eventually took one simple but powerful step—they made IT vendors accountable for end-of-life recycling.
Step 1: Link procurement to recycling
When signing an IT procurement contract, include a clause that:
- Requires the supplier to provide proof of NTCRS compliance (National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme)
- Ensures that end-of-life equipment will be collected and recycled for free through NTCRS-approved channels
This ensures your organisation avoids future e-waste disposal costs and stays compliant with national recycling obligations.
Step 2: Ensure secure data destruction
- Only use ADST-certified service providers
- For phones/tablets: recycle via MobileMuster
Step 3: Give hardware a second life
- Donate working devices to Indigenous Digital Inclusion programs
- Recycle materials through Sims Metal Management
Real-World Examples from Australian Leaders
- Woolworths: Mandates ACCU-certified carbon offsets for all POS suppliers and publishes their sources
- CBA: Saved AU$2.1 million in 3 years by switching to refurbished laptops + modular smartphones
- University of Queensland: Reduced PUE to 1.2 by adopting humidity-resistant servers in their data centre
Final Thought: It’s Not Just About IT—It’s About Impact
Sustainable procurement isn’t just an environmental checkbox. It’s a business decision that influences your operating costs, supply chain resilience, investor confidence, and brand reputation.
Whether you’re a startup with a tight budget or an enterprise navigating ESG reporting, your hardware choices today shape your environmental footprint tomorrow.
“The cost of doing nothing is rising—financially, legally, and ethically. The good news? You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.”
So, start with one contract. One supplier. One better decision. And let that build the foundation for a smarter, cleaner, and more resilient tech future for your business—and the planet.
FAQ
Q1: We’re a small business—do these sustainable procurement steps still apply to us?
Absolutely. Many initiatives like refurbished devices, modular hardware, and local sourcing are not only more sustainable but also more cost-effective for SMEs. Programs like the Instant Asset Write-Off and state recycling grants were designed with small businesses in mind.
Q2: How can we measure the carbon footprint of our IT purchases without a dedicated ESG team?
You can start simple using tools like Pathzero to estimate emissions, or ask your suppliers for carbon footprint declarations. Some Australian vendors even offer pre-calculated lifecycle emissions per product, helping you integrate sustainability into procurement with minimal overhead.
