As a responsible technology company, ASUS is firmly committed to preserving the environment through promoting sustainable practices.
By Leon Yu
Sooner than later, finally, the world society has identified the significance of sustainability and the right actions that must be implemented in order to switch over to a greener planet. This becomes an utmost need rather than a choice for us.
No doubt, global development is highly influenced by Climate change prompting an increased realization that extreme weather not only impacts our environment but also puts organizations’ operational resilience for a toss. According to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), greenhouse gas (GHG) caused by human activity has already caused a global temperature to rise of 1.1°C. Reaching net zero CO2 emissions globally will be a key turning point to achieving the objective outlined in the Paris Agreement of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
Net zero by 2070
In order to achieve the objectives, during COP26, India pledged to reduce its emissions to net zero by 2070. Further, it committed to obtaining 50% of its energy from renewable resources by 2030 as well as reducing overall estimated carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by the same year. To achieve this aim, the country submitted the Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LTS) to the UNFCCC in November 2022.
The LTS is a blueprint for using technology research and development along with climate governance as the basis for gradually completing strategies of the energy transition, industrial transition, lifestyle transition, and social transition to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2070. Therefore, the transition to a ‘net zero’ era, requires a lot of hard work and persistence from international organizations, government bodies, large enterprises, and individuals alike.
Acceleration of sustainability
At first, it’s a time that we individuals revisit our habits and unlearn the behaviors that lead to irreversible damage to the environment, in order to contribute to the overall sustainability agenda. An average Indian, for example, participates in the emission of 1.9 tons of CO2, contributing to an already significant carbon footprint.
Although there are already measures that are being undertaken at a policy level, it is important to note that as individuals, we can choose sustainable living and contribute to the acceleration of sustainability. Going with the report by the United Nations, sustainable living means understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us and finding ways for everyone to live a better and healthier lifestyle.
ASUS continue to innovate
How can we accomplish that? The answer is simple – to contribute to the overall sustainability agenda, we should aim to leverage technology to create durable, reliable, and sustainable innovations. Over a decade ago, brands like ASUS introduced the carbon-neutral laptop, followed closely by the revolutionary ASUS Bamboo-series laptops and, more recently, our carbon-neutral business laptop in 2022. After these early steps toward creating a better future, the tech brands like ASUS continue to innovate and today showcased some of the sustainable actions being taken to bring exciting innovations that create the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt, and joyful smart life for everyone.
Post-consumer recycled
This year in 2023, over 90% of consumer laptop brands like ASUS will meet EPEAT and ENERGY STAR® 8.0 standards. By focusing on product quality, functionality, durability, and upgradability, these brands ensure longer product life cycles by building products from the ground up with sustainability in mind. Brands like ASUS use sustainable materials in product manufacturing and packaging — and have actively procured and employed 1,500 tons of PCR (Post-consumer recycled) plastic since 2017, along with over 20,000 tons of recycled paper in 2022. To do more, they are consistently pushing for recyclability, resulting in over 40,000 tons of electronic waste (e-waste) being recycled in recent years.
Responsible supply chain
ASUS is committed to building more eco-friendly products in order to reduce waste and prolong the life of the laptops, while also ensuring users have outstanding experiences in terms of technological innovations. Their ultimate objective is to establish a sustainable environment for business that operates at net-zero emissions, promote a circular economy, and foster a responsible supply chain that generates mutual benefits for each and every one of us.
With a commitment to ensuring a greener tomorrow, we have taken a step towards creating a sustainable environment with the introduction of the campaign, “Discard Responsibly”. The programme, which aims to instill a sense of responsibility in residents, is a step toward promoting a sustainable environment by raising awareness of the effects of careless disposal of electronic trash on the planet.
E-waste responsibly
ASUS is helping the “Recycle it all, no matter how little” theme of Global 2022 by encouraging people to take part in the campaign and get rid of their e-waste responsibly. The brand will concentrate on collecting the typical tiny electrical items that we no longer use but store in drawers and cabinets or frequently throw out in a general rubbish bin as part of the programme. Products like electronic toothbrushes, iPads, cameras, headphones, smartwatches, fitness bands, and earbuds/AirPods.
Being a responsible technology brand, we firmly believe in preserving the environment by encouraging the use of sustainable practices. Continuing with our endeavor to build a sustainable environment, we are elated to announce the second edition of the #DiscardResponsily campaign. Through this campaign, we want to urge citizens to participate and do their bit in reducing the burden of e-waste on earth for ensuring a greener tomorrow.
Long-term sustainability perspective
Along with this, a proactive framework design of planning for climate measures like improving the R&D capabilities in software and hardware to improve product energy efficiency, driving the supply chain toward low-carbon manufacturing, expanding the use of renewable energy, and developing innovative technologies leads to the reduction of the carbon footprint of corporate operations, manufacturing, and products. From a long-term sustainability perspective, organizations must ‘digitize data and embrace scientific management practices to identify major climate risks and simulate possible future scenarios of climate financial impacts.
Identify hot spots for emissions
Not to forget that the manufacturers too play a vital role here. They may adopt a few certain approaches for enhancing energy efficiency, expanding the use of renewable energy, and removing residual emissions with innovative technologies to lead the value chain to net zero. They should optimize processes for key components and identify hot spots for emissions such as equipment with high energy consumption and processes with high carbon emissions and devise carbon reduction measures. Collaborate with suppliers on projects with low carbon materials, improvement in equipment efficiency, and renewable energy to promote technology in carbon reduction.
As an individual, we need to adopt a transformed mindset for a sustainable future – Technology and innovation will just make it better and faster. As long as sustainability is a priority for everyone, every contribution, no matter how big or small, may help to make the world a better, greener place. There are no two ways about it: the moment for change has arrived.
About the author
(Leon Yu, Regional Director of ASUS India & South Asia, System Business Group)
