Climate change, environmental conservation, which have received a lot of scholarly as well as political attention in recent years, are now becoming the buzzwords in the corporate sector as well.

The workplace has increasingly become a hotbed for excessive power consumption, wastage of paper and other materials, which are not recycled. The potential for offices to ‘go green’ is massive.

The use of ‘green technology’ implies more efficient power consumption and the use of recyclable and non-toxic materials. And here is the good news for corporates. Not only is ‘green’ good for the environment, it also helps companies save money by cutting down on their electricity and other expenditure.

This is perhaps why a noticeable trend is emerging in the corporate sector of implementing green technologies and investing in alternative energy sources. One such example of commitment to the environmental cause is Aspect Software.

A conversation with Lui Simhua, Senior Vice President, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, Aspect Software revealed the various practices that the company has implemented to reduce power consumption and carbon emissions.

According to Mr. Simhua, the various ways in which Aspect Software is helping to reduce the carbon footprint are -

• Employ home-based agents - Heating, cooling and powering office space are responsible for almost 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the US and more than 70 percent of total electricity usage. In addition, commuters spew 1.3 billion tons of CO2 a year. If you haven’t already done so, now might be the time to begin employing home-based agents. Not only will you be helping the environment by cutting employee commuting, you’ll be cutting facilities-related costs, gaining access to a broader talent pool, and increasing your center’s ability to quickly and efficiently respond to unexpected spikes in traffic.
  
  
• Use virtualization software – Globally, IT contributes to 2 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions: as much as all of the airlines combined. Considering the costs of powering and cooling servers, using virtualization software can result in big savings on power bills. It can also save money on future hardware investments and spare the environment the greenhouse gas emissions that would have gone into running and chilling those extra machines. Hardware virtualization software is a great tool that enables a single physical entity to be partitioned into multiple logical entities. In doing so, the software eliminates the number of servers you need and helps you to reduce your physical machine count and potentially your carbon footprint to subscribe to a more “Green IT” approach.
  
  
• Send less paper – The average employee wastes $85 worth of printer paper and ink each year through unnecessary printing. Why not automate your paper procedures? Use electronic media whenever possible in place of mailing or faxing information to customers and business partners. You’ll reduce paper waste and decrease costs.
  
  
• Power down/power smart – Computers in the office burn $1 billion worth of electricity annually – that’s when they’re not producing any work. Turn off computers and monitors at the end of the workday. You’ll lower carbon emissions, but also save $25 to $75 per computer annually. Also, think about replacing your agent’s desktop computers with laptops - laptops use up to 90 percent less energy.
  
  
• Improve lighting – Lighting accounts for almost one-third of the energy used in commercial buildings. Swap incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent lights. According to the EPA, compact fluorescent light bulbs use two thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

E-waste or Electronic waste is a term used to refer to electronic products/equipments that have become obsolete due to various reasons like technological advancements, changes in tastes/styles/status or because they have simply reached the end of their useful life.

India has witnessed a huge spurt in its consumer electronics segment in recent years. The life cycle of electronic devices i.e. PCs, mobile handsets, TVs etc. is becoming shorter and shorter, which seems to indicate a faster rate of obsolescence in the segment. Compounding the rise of electronic waste is the emergence of India as a veritable dumping ground for developed nations to export their obsolete electronic devices.

Limited resources of copper, lead and other materials demands re-using e-waste to obtain these materials. Proper management practices to handle the hazardous e-waste are a big concern in a developing country like India.

Zylog Systems’ solution to e-waste – The Recycle Accelerator
As a proactive solution, to proper handling of hazardous e-waste in India, Zylog Systems Limited, has developed an IT platform called the ‘Recycle Accelerator’, which comprehensively tracks e-waste throughout the procurement channel.

The e-waste problem seems to demand a level of integration between the players involved in the entire process of e-waste generation and disposal - manufacturers, governments, recyclers, collectors and buyers of downstream materials – to collectively tackle the problem.

This integration is what Zylog Systems Limited (ZSL), a Chennai based IT solutions provider, seemed to have in mind when it developed its IT based platform known as the ‘Recycle Accelerator’, which connects recyclers, collectors, govt. and manufacturers to companies that can reclaim materials for re-use. The platform enables business transactions i.e. is enables collectors to transfer data and goods to recyclers, and recyclers to locate appropriate downstream buyers to re-use materials.

The platform, having separate editions for individual use and for enterprises and small collection businesses, allows collectors to gather materials from the end-consumer.

Convergence Plus spoke with Mr. Ananth Chaganty, Sr. Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, Zylog Systems Limited. – a Chennai based IT solutions Provider

CP: What is the potential for e-waste recycling and management processes in India?

Mr. Chaganty: India has a unique opportunity to become a world leader in the management of electrical and electronic waste if measures and standards are quickly adopted and enforced. India is experiencing a phenomenal growth rate in consumer electronics, computers, and the proliferation of mobile communication devices. If the society in India encourages immediate government intervention, and the implementation of tracking and controls, India can implement efficient processes for managing e-waste, educating consumers, and avoiding the catastrophe before it occurs. It is a rare chance to look at the rest of the world and be proactive in avoiding a problem, as opposed to reactive in responding to one.

On the other hand, if India does not quickly address this important issue, there is a higher risk for the beautiful countryside to become the unexpected and uninhabitable hazardous waste dumping ground for the global community. Inaction is as much a decision as action, and we must not allow this to happen. It is by rapid adoption of regulations, standards, and processes that India can protect future generations and the environment. The platform can support regulations by country or by state, but without government support, adoption of the controls will be at the discretion of each manufacturer.

CP: What is your opinion on the regulatory framework in India for e-waste management, as opposed to that of other nations like the US?

Mr. Chaganty: E-waste is a global problem with very personal and local impact for each individual. While the types of problems may vary by geography, the needs to address the issues are shared by all. In the case of India, there is an immediate need to address the lack of regulations and standardized processes for the proper management of electronic waste. There is much that can be learned from the failures and success of other nations that currently wrestle with an abundance of consumer electronics and associated obsolete and discarded waste.

The United States, Canada, and Europe already have a significant install base of electronics, appliances, computer, and mobile communication devices. These regions of the world are adopting regulations to manage an accumulation of electronic waste, and the threat of an abundance of electronic waste as new technology replaces the old. North America and Europe have great need of a solution for existing and future e-waste.