Company-issued IT equipment like laptops, tablets, and phones are often an afterthought when employees leave or are assigned new equipment. Many of these devices sit unused in storage, or can even be discarded by an ex-employee if the right process is not implemented to collect them.

This creates wasted value and pressure on organizations to reduce waste and meet sustainability targets. The circular economy provides a practical solution by keeping equipment in circulation through reuse, refurbishment, or recycling.

Returning IT assets is one of the easiest ways for companies to participate in this cycle. Making the process easier and more efficient helps businesses meet compliance requirements and control costs while demonstrating their commitment to sustainability in measurable and visible ways.

IT Returns in the Circular Economy

The circular economy model is built on the principle of extending the useful life of resources. Instead of treating devices as disposable, companies look for ways to redeploy or recycle them responsibly. IT assets are a natural fit for this model. Laptops and monitors can often be reassigned to new employees, and phones and tablets may be refurbished and put back into circulation. Even when equipment is no longer usable, its materials can be recycled into new products.

Returns are the starting point for each of these outcomes. If equipment is not collected, it cannot be reused or processed. This is why device recovery is vital in closing the loop. By creating clear return processes, companies can reduce waste and keep valuable resources in motion instead of losing them to storage closets or landfills.

Barriers to Sustainable IT Returns

Despite recognizing the value of a sustainable IT returns program, many companies struggle with execution.

For administrators, error-prone manual systems often lead to lost equipment or gaps in record-keeping. Meanwhile, employees may find the returns process inconvenient or unclear, which results in compliance issues.

The rise of the distributed workforce adds another challenge, since devices may need to be collected from multiple remote locations.

Return challenges create both logistical headaches and administrative strain. Devices left uncollected can lead to wasted resources, higher costs, and unnecessary e-waste. Unreturned equipment can also pose security and compliance risks.

How ReturnCenter’s Solutions Support Sustainability

ReturnCenter provides companies with tools that make IT returns both simple and sustainable. Our solutions are designed to fit smoothly into existing processes, reducing friction for employees while supporting secure and responsible equipment recovery.

Branded Portals

A branded return portal gives IT asset disposition companies an online storefront from which they can collect customer pickup orders. Tailored with the company logo and URL, the portal reflects the ITAD brand while running on ReturnCenter’s platform. Configuration is quick and does not require programming or APIs, and ITADs can use any logistics provider they choose. The portal is streamlined and includes automation to reduce manual tracking with calls and spreadsheets. With an easy-to-use dashboard, in a branded space, ITADs and their customers find it much easier to manage new orders, improve compliance and support higher successful recovery rates.

The Box Program

Recovering devices from remote employees or managing warranty and repair shipments can create a heavy administrative load. The Box Program simplifies this with pre-paid, pre-labeled shipping kits that are ready to use. The box program can be used standalone by enterprise companies or by IT asset disposition companies, or can be a shipping option in the ITAD’s branded portal.

ReturnCenter’s box program includes support, parcel shipping management, and reporting. This means teams don’t need to expend resources to manually generate labels or track shipments.

There are no subscription or minimum order requirements, making the program ideal for organizations of any size, from SMBs to large-scale enterprises.

ServiceNow Integration

For organizations that already use ServiceNow, returns can be handled directly in the same environment. Our app lets users schedule and track the movement of IT assets for disposition, offboarding, redeployment, or lease returns without leaving the platform. This helps keep workflows consistent and strengthens reporting. ITAD providers can also embed their services directly into a customer’s ServiceNow instance.

These solutions help organizations recover more assets and reduce waste, solidifying their role in the circular economy.

Organizational Benefits 

A structured IT return process supports both operations and sustainability initiatives. Recovering more devices reduces equipment loss, which protects budgets and confidential data. Additionally, many regulations require companies to take back electronic equipment in an appropriate manner.

Collected assets also support environmental commitments. Equipment that is refurbished, redeployed, or recycled can be documented for corporate reporting, giving organizations tangible results to include in their sustainability metrics.

Automating the return process takes pressure off internal teams and lowers the risk that uncollected devices will create security issues. When the workflow is built into systems employees already use, staff are not forced to chase missing equipment. Instead, they can see the status of each return at a glance, which makes it simpler to confirm compliance and prepare accurate sustainability reports. The result is better visibility for planning and accountability across the organization.

Turn IT Returns Into a Sustainability Win 

IT asset returns are often considered routine tasks, yet their complexity can be astounding. They hold significant potential for advancing sustainability and ESG goals. Every device collected, reassigned, or recycled reduces waste and supports the principles of the circular economy. 

With ReturnCenter, organizations have a practical way to make this process consistent and scalable. Branded portals, the Box Program, and ServiceNow integration can be used individually or together to simplify recovery, protect data, and conserve resources.

By treating IT returns as more than an afterthought, companies can create systems that operate efficiently while meeting future sustainability expectations and regulatory demands.

Explore how ReturnCenter can help your organization build a sustainable return program that is simple, secure, and ready to scale. Connect with us today to get started.