Hello World!

These days, it is very fashionable to be green. In fact, green is the new black. “Going green” is the catchphrase that makes every company look saintly, even though they continue to exploit the planet’s diminishing resources. If you work for a networking vendor, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the importance of reducing carbon footprints, embracing sustainability, and “giving back” to Mother Earth. I mean, who wouldn’t want to save the planet… as long as it doesn’t cut into profits or require any significant effort, right?

To quote the world’s most famous amphibian: “It’s not easy being green.” However, here are some steps that vendors – including my own company – can take in order improve their eco-friendliness. I realize that as humble SEs, we may not have a lot of control over many of these factors, but we should certainly communicate the important ones to our internal management teams, and we should self-righteously share our company’s accomplishments with our customers and prospects.

Step 1: Change Your Logo to Green. Hey, you’ve got to start somewhere! That vibrant green hue, especially if you throw in a leaf or two, will make customers feel like they are investing in the future of the planet whenever they buy your networking equipment.

Step 2: Energy Efficient Hardware. This is where your company can really have a big impact. Designing networking equipment that consumes less energy, such as low-power routers, switches, and firewalls will significantly reduce a customer’s energy consumption, along with their electric bills. Implementing power-saving modes (i.e. sleep mode) during periods of inactivity will further reduce their energy utilization.

Step 3: Paperless Billing and Documentation. Seriously, paper invoices and bulky user manuals are both so 1990s. Let’s all save a few trees, if not a whole forest. Besides, email invoices tend to get paid more promptly anyhow.

Step 4: Sustainable Product Designs. Use eco-friendly and recyclable materials in order to reduce e-waste. Modular designs mean that individual components can be replaced or upgraded without discarding the entire device. And increased product lifespans and durability (which customers always want anyway!) will reduce the frequency of costly and wasteful hardware replacements.

Step 5: E-Waste Reduction. Many manufacturers are implementing recycling and take-back programs for end-of-life products so that they don’t end up in landfills. We should all encourage refurbishing and reusing older equipment, thereby reducing the need for new manufacturing. And sustainable packaging – including EU mandated take-back requirements for boxes and crates – also further reduce waste.

Step 6: Everything Else. There are LOTS of other ways to further embrace greenness. Some are small, and some are impractical, but others may be directly applicable to your particular organization. Here is a random list:

• Supply chain sustainability and “green” logistics
• Sustainable sourcing for components
• Invest in carbon offsetting programs
• Solar powered Wi-Fi routers
• Recycle old cables
• Host an annual Earth Day event for your customers

At the end of the day, every organization’s version of “green” will be different. Some will probably pass muster with Greta Thunberg, while others will just be for show. The bottom line is that we all need to do something. Remember, green is the new black.

Stay tuned for more nerdy columns about my experiences as an SE.