Fair ICT Flanders

Together towards sustainable ICT in Flanders

ICT hardware? That is often produced in unfair conditions and has a huge impact on the environment. This is why CATAPA, Bond Beter Leefmilieu and Ondernemers voor Ondernemers launched the Fair ICT Flanders project. The project helps large ICT buyers such as companies, cities and municipalities, provinces, colleges and universities to make the transition to fair and circular ICT.

Mining and ICT production: heavy impact
There are a lot of metals in ICT devices. These are mined in various places around the world. That mining is often accompanied by heavy pollution, and the communities living near the mines often lose their access to water and land. In assembly plants, working conditions are often very poor: workers are sometimes forced to work in the factories, unions are banned, and workers must work in unsafe environments and come into contact with toxic substances. Many factories also run on polluting energy.

Giant mountain of e-waste
The short lifespan of ICT devices exponentially increases that social and environmental impact and creates a giant mountain of e-waste. The latest figures from 2022 speak of 62 million tons (!) per year that mostly ends up in landfills in Africa and Asia. 

Sustainable procurement policy
Large purchasers can have a major influence in making the entire ICT production chain more sustainable. A policy to purchase and use ICT sustainably is an important lever in this regard. Therefore, Fair ICT Flanders teaches those large buyers the systems, labels, criteria and policies that help them reduce the ecological impact of their ICT equipment. With concrete guidelines, the project helps organizations incorporate social and circular criteria into their purchasing procedures.

Reuse and life extension
The experts of Fair ICT Flanders also show all the possibilities that exist to reuse ICT devices and extend their life. In this way, the organizations not only reduce their impact on the environment. They also improve the living and working conditions of the communities affected by mining and ICT production and profile themselves as sustainable players.