Sustainability in the Technology Sector: Beyond Compliance

By Rajeev Singh, Managing Director, BenQ India and South Asia

The consumer technology industry is undergoing a significant transformation. What was once a peripheral concern—its environmental impact—has now become a central business priority. Sustainability has evolved from a mere marketing strategy to a crucial driver of innovation, efficiency, and strategic value.

Recent industry metrics highlight this shift, with the global sustainability maturity index growing by 22% since 2022. However, this progress has not been without its challenges. Geopolitical tensions and rising consumer skepticism around greenwashing have presented notable obstacles, demanding more transparent and impactful sustainability initiatives.

Evolving Sustainability Landscape

Three major trends are shaping the future of sustainability in consumer technology:

Circular Design Principles: Companies are moving past conventional recycling efforts, adopting holistic circular design strategies that emphasize optimizing the entire product lifecycle. This includes rethinking product designs to minimize waste, enhance reusability, and reduce environmental impacts from the conception stage to disposal.

Intelligent Energy Management: The industry is embracing energy-efficient innovations, with devices employing advanced algorithms to dynamically adjust power consumption based on usage patterns. Standard features now include automatic dimming, intelligent idle modes, and adaptive energy management, underscoring the sector’s commitment to shrinking its carbon footprint.

Holistic Environmental Approaches: Organisations are increasingly acknowledging the interconnected nature of environmental challenges. Efforts now aim to simultaneously address multiple areas, including water conservation, biodiversity preservation, and carbon emissions reduction, rather than treating these as isolated issues.

Regulatory Frameworks and Extended Producer Responsibility

The Indian Government came out with The E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022, for responsible electronics management by mandating:

• Comprehensive registration and authorization of e-waste recycling facilities
• Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks
• Incremental increases in e-waste recycling targets
• Reduction of hazardous substances in electronics
• Safeguarding and upskilling workers involved in e-waste management

These regulations reflect a proactive approach to tackling one of the most urgent environmental challenges. However, robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure compliance and achieve the intended outcomes. By fostering collaboration between manufacturers, recyclers, and consumers, India can pave the way for a circular economy that not only reduces environmental impact but also drives economic growth and technological innovation.

AI: The New Sustainability Paradigm

According to the recent UNEP’s issue note, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) end-to-end: The Environmental Impact of the Full AI Lifecycle Needs to be Comprehensively Assessed,” data centers powering AI infrastructure are major environmental resource consumers. For instance, a single 2 kg computer requires 800 kg of raw materials, and AI infrastructure could soon consume six times more water than a nation of six million people.

The rapid growth of AI technologies presents a paradoxical challenge. While AI drives innovation, its supporting infrastructure demands a rethinking of sustainability priorities. Global leaders and governments must urgently reconcile AI’s transformative potential with its environmental footprint, recognising that sustainable design is no longer optional but essential.

The Way Forward: Collaborative Sustainability

Tackling these challenges necessitates a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach:

• Manufacturers should focus on sustainable design, using recyclable materials and modular components to extend product lifespans.
• Consumers need education on responsible electronics usage and the environmental implications of their choices.
• Governments must enhance regulatory frameworks to incentivize sustainable practices and deter environmental negligence.
• Recycling infrastructure requires modernization, with investments in advanced technologies and worker safety enhancements.

The journey towards sustainability is both complex and continuous. It calls for relentless effort, substantial investment, and a willingness to reimagine how we design, manufacture, use, and dispose of technology.

The consumer technology sector stands at a critical juncture of innovation and responsibility. By adopting sustainable practices, advancing climate technologies, and fostering collaboration across the value chain, the industry can drive impactful environmental change while continuing to deliver cutting-edge solutions.

Sustainability is no longer a choice—it is a necessity that will shape the future of consumer technology.