Second life for used IT equipment: Infineon’s contribution to sustainability, environment and society

Infineon supports climate protection: the company cooperates with the non-profit organization “Arbeit für Menschen mit Behinderung”, AfB, that recycles used IT equipment. This sustainability initiative of Infineon saved more than 183,000 kilos of raw materials and secured two inclusive jobs in 2020. 

“Bringing technology, our environment and society together sustainably is a major priority for us as a leading company. The three-fold added value we provide with this IT cooperation is thus all the more satisfying: it saves resources, promotes circular economy and creates important jobs”, Oliver Heinrich, CFO of Infineon Austria said. Since 2014, when the IT partnership was established, an average of two inclusive workplaces have been supported at AfB each year.

Infineon is also represented in the Expert Advisory Board of the AfB. Robert Müllneritsch, Chairman of the Central Works Council of Infineon Austria said: “Increasing awareness of AfB’s commitment in Austria, expanding the network and supporting the future development of the non-profit, socio-ecological work of this organization is a priority concern of mine as an Expert Advisory Board member.”

95 percent recycling certified

Infineon supplied AfB with a significant input last year comprised of 1,957 IT devices, including notebooks, PCs, monitors, printers, tablet PCs and mobile phones with a total weight of 7.5 tons. These are all recycled in a certified process at the AfB branch in Klagenfurt: data is deleted, the equipment is cleaned and repaired before testing and upgrading. Raw material that cannot be recycled is discarded in accordance with the statutory regulations. 95 percent of the Infineon equipment was recycled and two jobs created for people with disabilities or impairments. 

We can put numbers on this contribution to environmental and climate protection thanks to a Berlin University of Technology study. Thanks to the partnership with AfB, Infineon saved the following resources in 2020:

• 183,211 kilos of raw materials (metals and minerals in iron equivalents)
• 232,399 kilos of greenhouse gas (C0  ₂ equivalents)
• 912,116 kilowatt hours of energy

Fabio Papini, branch manager of AfB in Klagenfurt said: “Thanks to cooperation schemes with companies such as Infineon and the IT hardware they provide to us, our inclusive and non-profit IT company is able to create jobs for people with disabilities and protect the environment at the same time.” The recycled devices are sold at fair conditions in the AfB IT shops. They were particularly popular among school pupils during the coronavirus pandemic. More than one third of the 700 AfB recycled Infineon notebooks were used for home schooling when classes were closed.

Infineon Environmental Report 2020 illustrates contribution to climate protection and CSR

The social, ecological and economic aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility are very high on the Infineon agenda. Infineon Austria has been voluntarily committed to the EMAS – Eco Management and Audit Scheme – of the European Union since 1997 and meets the provisions of the environmental management standard ISO 14001. In this context, Infineon Austria publishes an annual Environmental Statement that is evaluated by independent, external evaluation bodies as part of comprehensive audits. The Environmental Statement 2020 provides a comprehensive insight into the guiding principles and activities for environmental protection, energy efficiency and resource conservation as well as the goals and the measures planned to reach the Infineon Group's goal of CO2 neutrality by 2030. Details to the Environmental Statement:   www.infineon.com/nachhaltig-austria

About AfB mildtätige und gemeinnützige GmbH

AfB "Arbeit für Menschen mit Behinderung" GmbH is Europe's largest non-profit IT company that takes over used IT from companies, refurbishes it and resells it. The approved inclusive company employs a staff of approximately 500 and 45 percent of these people have disabilities. The focus of operations is currently in Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland and Slovakia. The AfB branch in Klagenfurt employs 12 persons. Link:  www.afbshop.at

Infineon Technologies Austria AG is a group subsidiary of Infineon Technologies AG, a world-leading provider of semiconductor solutions that make life easier, safer and greener. Microelectronics from Infineon reduce the energy consumption of consumer electronics, domestic appliances and industrial facilities. They make a major contribution to the convenience, security and sustainability of vehicles, and enable secure transactions in the Internet of Things.

Infineon Austria pools competencies for research and development, production as well as global business responsibility. The head office is in Villach, with further branches in Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz and Vienna. With 4,517 employees from around 70 countries (including 1,960 in research and development), in the financial year 2020 (ending in September) the company achieved a turnover of € 3.1 billion. With a research expenditure of 498 million euros, Infineon Austria is one of the strongest research companies in Austria.