Green IT Hero: How ecolytiq integrates sustainability into its IT – with ease!

ecolytiq is a Climate-Fintech that empowers banks to future-proof their offerings by embedding sustainability into the core of financial services. With their API-based Sustainability-as-a-Service® model, ecolytiq helps financial institutions engage customers in meaningful climate action.

But sustainability doesn’t stop at the product. ecolytiq lives its values internally as well – including its IT setup. By choosing pre-owned IT hardware from circulee, the team reduces emissions, avoids unnecessary consumption, and contributes to a more circular tech economy.

We spoke with Tadas Vakulenko, Senior IT Systems Administrator at ecolytiq, about practical sustainability in IT, breaking down the stigma around refurbished hardware, and why smart decisions often start behind the scenes.

Tadas Vakulenko: As climate tech company, we know what it means to live sustainable values. One way that we have been able to do this is by adopting pre-owned IT hardware. We were inspired to make this switch, because we recognized that purchasing new hardware was not only costly, but also had a significant environmental impact due to the manufacturing and shipping processes involved.

An important factor to consider before purchasing pre-owned hardware is quality. Finding a reputable supplier can ensure that the hardware is thoroughly tested before purchase. Then, the long-term savings and environmental benefits can be significant. In fact, pre-owned hardware can often be just as reliable and effective as brand new equipment. There’s no need to have the latest and shiniest model just for the sake of consumption.

We have found that using refurbished equipment is not only cost-effective, but also aligns with our commitment to sustainability and promotes a more circular economy. One surprising finding is that many of our employees couldn't tell the difference between new and refurbished hardware unless they were informed, which has helped reduce any potential stigma associated with using pre-owned equipment.

The exceptional quality of the hardware, which was on par with new equipment, as well as the lightning-fast delivery time. However, what truly set circulee apart was their amazing team, who were incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and committed to ensuring our satisfaction during the whole process.