PonyUp launches carbon tracking for refurbished IT equipment

PonyUp for Good has introduced a carbon reduction solution for Australian businesses through a new partnership with Rejoose.

The Melbourne-based social enterprise, known for collaborating with major organisations such as Telstra, Australia Post, Atturra, Nandos and Xero, facilitates the collection and refurbishment of retired corporate IT equipment. Fifty per cent of the proceeds from these activities are donated to food rescue charity SecondBite.

Through the new partnership with Rejoose, businesses working with PonyUp will now be able to access advanced carbon tracking and ESG metrics tailored to the lifecycle of their IT assets. This partnership makes PonyUp the first social enterprise in Australia to provide such detailed monitoring of IT-related carbon footprints.

PonyUp employs a policy of reuse first, collecting retired technology from its clients, conducting data cleansing and refurbishment, and then on-selling the equipment to extend its useful life. As part of its service, the company delivers environmental and community impact reports to its clients, detailing metrics such as landfill diversion rates, reuse rates, and the number of meals donated to SecondBite.

The newly integrated feature, part of Rejoose's e.voice circularity solution, offers accurate and auditable assessments of the CO2 savings achieved through technology refurbishment. This provides immediate and tangible feedback to companies on the benefits of opting for repair and reuse rather than replacement.

PonyUp for Good Co-founder, Cat Harding, commented, "Clients aren't just asking for CO2 reporting – they're demanding it. With new business legislation mandated in 2024, hitting Net Zero isn't optional anymore, and this tool will provide the visibility and trusted data sets needed to take real, measurable action. We also believe the data will highlight the real carbon benefits of 'reuse first', and with the residual value being turned into nutritious meals, this makes it an attractive proposition for clients with ESG targets."

According to Rejoose's Global Head of Circular IT Partnerships, Martin Skou, "We are happy at Rejoose to support the amazing initiatives from PonyUp for Good, and we are fully committed to support their partners in achieving ambitious Net Zero goals by delivering reliable and GHG-compliant data. This partnership resonates with our entire team and reflects values we truly stand by."

Since its establishment in 2016, PonyUp and its partners have diverted more than 600,000 kilos of technology from landfill, which equates to the weight of approximately 14.5 Boeing 737 aircraft, and have achieved a reuse rate of 32.5% by weight.

If collected technology cannot be reused, PonyUp works with the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP), which operates under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS). The partnership employs strict audit and compliance regimes to ensure all recycling processes meet and often exceed NTCRS requirements.

Carla Vasconi, CEO of ANZRP, commented, "This announcement is extremely timely. Businesses are facing a balancing act, to maintain a positive image and navigate ESG at a reasonable cost. Easy solutions for businesses to be able to tell their story through data are increasingly in demand."

Atturra, an advisory and IT solutions firm, is one of the companies donating retired IT equipment to PonyUp. David Dekker, Chief Operating Officer at Atturra, said, "Carbon metrics are critical for informed and responsible decision-making. When businesses can measure their impact, it ensures there is visibility to influence meaningful change."

Since its founding, PonyUp's co-founders, Mardi Brown and Cat Harding, have donated half of the company's profits to SecondBite, achieving the milestone of donating one million fresh meals to people in need.