21/09/2026
Zero Emissions Day often gets us thinking about transport, energy and how we power our homes and workplaces but there is another part of the emissions story that gets far less attention, the things we manufacture in the first place.
Every new laptop, phone or tablet requires raw materials to be extracted, components to be manufactured, devices to be assembled and then transported around the world. All of that uses energy and resources before the device has even been switched on for the first time.
That is why, at Edinburgh Remakery, we believe reducing emissions is not only about what powers our tech. It is also about how long we keep that tech in use.
When a business no longer needs a laptop, that does not necessarily mean the laptop has reached the end of its life. It could be repaired, refurbished and used again. And when reuse is possible, that device can continue creating value without immediately being replaced by something newly manufactured.
In 2025, we diverted 52 tonnes of e-waste, with 77% repaired or reused. We also gifted 224 refurbished devices through our Tech Gifting Programme, giving tech a second life while helping people facing digital exclusion.
Recycling has an important role to play, but it should not always be the first step. One of the simplest ways to reduce the environmental impact of tech is to make more of the tech we already have 💚
