From office to opportunity: Giving devices a second life

Digital technology plays an essential role in modern life — shaping how we communicate, engage civically, and access education. But access to this digital world isn’t universal. Financial barriers still prevent many people, especially lower-income children and young adults, from participating fully.

At the same time, the rapid pace of technological change means hardware is often replaced well before it stops working. At smartclip, we typically update our equipment every three to four years to meet evolving needs, which often leaves us with functional but unused devices.

Rather than letting this equipment go to waste, we’ve introduced a donation initiative aimed at supporting digital inclusion and reducing electronic waste. Devices that are no longer in active use, but still in good working condition, are now being donated to charitable organisations.

In our Rheda-Wiedenbrück office, Mortiz Böning, Senior IT Manager, is spearheading this effort. Preparing each laptop involves securely wiping all data, testing functionality, installing a new operating system — typically Linux — and ensuring all necessary accessories are included. Depending on the hardware, this process can take a few hours up to two hours per device.

We’ve chosen to donate our first batch of devices to Hardware for Future, a project of Dezentrale e.V. that collects and distributes laptops to individuals in need and other charitable projects. The first ten laptops have already been donated, and around 20 more devices are currently being prepared for future donations.  While the scale of our first contribution might seem modest, the aim is clear: to extend the life of our devices and help close the digital divide by making technology more accessible to those who need it most.