The focus on sustainability in business has never been stronger, with organizations the world over committing to net zero emissions targets on or ahead of the UN target date of 2050. Cisco, for instance, is fully committed to 100% product return with a net zero emissions target of 2040 (which includes product use, operations, and supply chain), by FY25, 100% of new Cisco products and packaging will incorporate Circular Design Principles.
Ingram Micro and Cisco are making it even easier for organizations to join them on the journey to net zero. By partnering with Ingram Micro, organizations can now gain a Cisco Sustainability Specialization that is focused on best sustainability practice and taking the pledge to work towards a more sustainable future and a Full Lifetime Approach to IT deployment.
The Cisco Sustainability Specialization counts toward Select program level within the Cisco Partner Program, which in turn provides those registered with further discounts and incentives of up to 7% on new products for customer refresh or migration opportunities, in addition to access to exclusive incremental product discounts through the Takeback Incentive. Cisco’s Product Takeback and Reuse Program enables Cisco equipment owners to return hardware that has reached end-of-use, at no cost. Cisco estimates that 99.9% of what is returned is reused and recycled, ensuring responsible disposition of equipment.
As well as unlocking fresh customer conversation opportunities and expanding service offerings, the Cisco Environmental Sustainability Specialization ensures participants can meet certain RfX requirements and to differentiate themselves in a fiercely competitive market. Participants will also have access to free digital marketing assets that can be used to tell customers and partners about their commitment to sustainable business practices.
Cisco authorised Partners can also take advantage of Cisco Refresh, Cisco’s certified remanufactured business, incorporating Cisco products into their own circular economy, and support their customers’ environmental ambitions by selling certified, fully warrantied pre-owned equipment at an attractive price.
In addition to facing more stringent regulatory and compliance targets from governments, businesses are also under pressure from employees and consumers to become more sustainable. Furthermore, there is a strong link between sustainability and performance. According to Accenture, 81% of sustainable indices outperformed their peer benchmarks in 2020 which makes firms with a positive ESG rating more attractive to investors.
Having ambitions to be ‘sustainable’ is common. A recent study by BCG/MIT found that 90% of executives find sustainability to be important. However, that same report stated just 60% of companies incorporate sustainability in their strategy, and only a quarter have sustainability as part of their business model.
Broadly speaking, sustainability specialists do not tend to be enterprise IT experts and vice versa. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report estimates that 4 in 10 workers will need to be reskilled to meet demand for sustainability roles. Bridging the knowledge and skills gap is a huge challenge for a lot of organizations. The market opportunity in the sustainability space has attracted hundreds of vendors selling thousands of solutions and services.
IT decision makers need help, the good news is help is at hand. Ingram Micro and Cisco are working together to help change the traditional ‘create, use and throw away’ economy and replace it with a full lifecycle approach that emphasises remanufacturing, reusing, and recycling.
To learn more about how Ingram Micro and Cisco are working together to help drive sustainability, and about how you can play a part in this mission, visit the Ingram Micro flyHigher Partner Program.