CSRD in logistics: Reducing costs through sustainable IT
Kennis
July 7, 2026
Miranda van Tellingen
The CSRD challenge in the warehouse
The CSRD requires organizations to measure and report their environmental footprint across the entire value chain. Scope 3 emissions, the indirect emissions generated throughout the supply chain, including the procurement of business equipment, often represent one of the biggest challenges for logistics managers.
The production of new IT hardware, such as rugged mobile computers and handheld terminals, is highly resource- and energy-intensive. The extraction of rare earth materials and the global transportation of these devices generate significant CO₂ emissions long before a single barcode is scanned. When these devices are discarded as electronic waste (e-waste) after only a few years of use, they further increase an organization's environmental impact and can negatively affect its sustainability reporting.
Up to 7 years of reliable performance with circular IT
Sustainable logistics starts with the fundamentals: extending the lifespan of your IT equipment. While many manufacturers encourage a hardware refresh after just three or four years—often by ending official support—the reality is that professional-grade hardware can continue to perform reliably for much longer.
By adopting circular IT and investing in professionally refurbished barcode scanners and rugged mobile devices, businesses can extend the operational life of their equipment to six or even seven years. This delivers several direct benefits for CSRD reporting:
- Lower Scope 3 emissions: Delaying the purchase of new equipment postpones the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and transportation by several years.
- Reduced consumption of raw materials: Fewer new devices mean less demand for virgin materials, reducing pressure on natural resources.
- Less e-waste: Devices remain in circulation for longer and can be responsibly recycled at the end of their extended lifecycle.
Sustainable and more cost-effective
One of the biggest advantages of this sustainability strategy is that it doesn't increase costs—it actually reduces them. In an industry where margins are under constant pressure, investing in refurbished enterprise hardware can significantly lower capital expenditure (CAPEX).
A high-quality, Grade A refurbished barcode scanner delivers the same performance and reliability as a new device, but at a fraction of the purchase price.
An extended hardware lifecycle also brings greater operational stability. There is no need to repeatedly reconfigure software or Mobile Device Management (MDM) platforms every time a new generation of hardware is introduced. Instead, your device fleet remains standardized, stable, and familiar to warehouse employees, reducing disruption and improving day-to-day efficiency.
Support doesn't end when the manufacturer decides
A common concern about continuing to use refurbished hardware is the loss of manufacturer warranty and software updates. However, with specialized service and maintenance contracts, this gap can be fully covered. Through proactive management, fast repairs, and strategic spare parts inventory management, continuity on the shop floor is guaranteed. In this way, sustainability, compliance, and maximum uptime go hand in hand.
Would you like to know how your organization can concretely save CO₂ and costs with refurbished hardware? We are happy to provide you with non-binding advice.