ICT procurers join forces for a sustainable market

On June 14th a group of frontrunner countries is launching the Circular and Fair ICT Pact (CFIT). Participants of this new international partnership will use their collective procurement power to accelerate the ICT sector towards becoming more circular and fair. Actions will be taken in dialogue with the ICT industry and other relevant actors. The pact is an initiative under the UN One Planet Network SPP Programme.

ICT is a fundamental part of our daily lives. At the same time mining, production, usage and waste of ICT on a global scale is not without consequences. It is responsible for more than 2% of global CO2 emissions and this percentage is growing. In addition, the sector depends on rare and non-renewable resources and is confronted with environmental, human and labor rights challenges. 

While efforts are underway by the industry and others to address these challenges, ICT procurers can play a vital role in accelerating this much needed change. Through their demand, they can drive the change towards circular and fair products and services. Individually however their demand is too small and fragmented to create the necessary momentum in the global ICT market. The Circular and Fair ICT Pact intends to bridge that gap.

The pact brings procurers together in a growing network. This network will be built by setting up national or regional networks or buyer groups that are easily accessible for procurers. Here they can get access to best practices, harmonized and tested criteria and tools. The buyer groups can work together and learn together. Each buyer group will be supported by a coordinating organization.

The pact connects these buyer groups on an international level to facilitate knowledge sharing between them. In addition, representatives will engage in high level dialogue with the industry, NGOs and other organizations to work towards ambitious circular and fair innovations.

In a recent event of the World Circular Economic Forum in April in the Netherlands the governments of the Netherlands (I&W), Belgium (FIDO), Germany (BMU), Norway (DFO), the United Kingdom (DEFRA) and Austria (BMNT), and the Circular Innovation Council in Canada already committed to launching the pact. 

The formal launch of the pact will take place in an open online event on June 14th 2021, 4-5 pm CET.

Registration to receive the link the event 

For more information on the Circular and Fair ICT Pact, please visit our homepage.