Welcome to Ask the Experts! In this blog series, the Lucid team will be bringing you a topical news story from the tech industry, explaining how it is relevant to you and your business, and give our expert advice on what we can learn from the very latest developments in our sector. This month, we are focusing on a recent BBC News awareness piece on fast tech.
What Is Fast Tech?
“Fast tech” is a term that refers to small, cheap electrical items that we use daily, like charging cables and mini-fans. Fast tech is also likely to be prevalent in your business environment, as the category includes USB sticks, decorative lights, and headphones.
This technology normally has a short usage period before it either breaks or is discarded, particularly novelty or gimmick pieces. For example, nearly £8 million was spent on light-up toilet seats alone last year — that is enough money to pay the average annual electricity bill for over four thousand homes in the UK!
Unfortunately, fast tech is often inexpensive and poorly constructed, leading to high volumes of waste. So, what does this trend for inefficient electronics mean on a wider scale?
Fast Tech: Waste and Inefficiency
Whilst each individual fast tech item might be cheap, it will still contain precious (and often finite) resources like copper and gold. When fast tech enters landfill, not only are these materials lost, but huge volumes of rubbish are generated that can damage the environment.
The answer to the issue of fast tech might be relatively simple. First, dispose responsibly of any fast tech items that you have to buy — did you know that almost every electrical item can be at least partially recycled? Some charities will accept them to recycle on your behalf, or you can use this handy online search to find your nearest electrical recycling locations. This ensures that there is minimal waste and pollution being generated.
Secondly, try to ask yourself if you really need a fast tech item, or if there is a more sustainable alternative. For example, instead of buying disposable batteries, why not try rechargeable versions? If everyone in the UK made small changes like this in their daily tech habits, the volume of electrical waste going to landfill would decrease dramatically.
Learning from Fast Tech: Sustainable Business Technology
At Lucid, we are passionate about protecting the planet, and we believe that fast tech should be avoided wherever possible when you are choosing your business hardware. Our team can provide friendly, expert advice on alternatives and upgrades that can help you to turn away from fast tech, and also ensure that you get the most out of every piece of equipment that you invest in. Operating efficiently and eco-consciously not only helps to save you money but can really solidify your reputation as a conscientious and ambitious business, helping you to stand out from your competition.
For more information about working with Lucid, you can contact our team here.