Forus Group user experience with the GreenDice service

What happened to Forus’ IT equipment after internal use? What were the pain points of disposal or redistribution of the equipment? What were the challenges or problems?

Probably, like many other companies, our used laptops, monitors, and other equipment simply sat on warehouse shelves. At one point, we accumulated quite a few computers. When we moved Forus’ head office to Kadaka tee in Mustamäe, we distributed the old computers to our employees for personal use, because we wanted to get rid of the equipment.

We lacked a process and procedure for disposing of the equipment. The old computers sat idle, unable to be used by people who genuinely needed them.

Do you implement green and circular economy principles in your company, and if so, how?

We care about sustainability in our company and it’s important for us to consistently reduce our footprint. For example, we are gradually transitioning to electric cars in our patrol service. We have a large fleet of cars, and when we acquire new vehicles, we prioritize ensuring that each car has a smaller CO2 footprint than the previous one.

A good example in our company is the recycling of clothing. Forus has a lot of frontline workers and inevitably, many uniforms wear out. Employees also change. We have a lovely warehouse manager, Evelyn, who “rescues” clothes and always finds new uses for used and decent clothing. Among other things, we remove our company logos from the clothes and take them to those in need. If the uniforms look presentable, we always find a way to reuse them. If necessary, they can be altered, trousers shortened, etc.

What prompted you to join GreenDice?

A caring attitude and the fact that GreenDice genuinely wants to do something for our environment and the world.

GreenDice also has an open model where our company constantly sees the ecological footprint of our computer park without having to do complex calculations ourselves. We see the footprint of our entire computer park that we actively use, as well as the footprint of the machines we have sent for disposal and recycling.

As we must submit a sustainability report, or ESG report, based on our financial year, cooperation with GreenDice simplifies the submission of several important data points.

Additionally, we like that we can offer our people the opportunity to join the service for personal use through GreenDice and get a good business-class computer. If it breaks, it gets replaced, and there’s also user support as a bonus. For example, several of our security guards use this opportunity.

Why GreenDice specifically? How does GreenDice differentiate itself from competitors?

The company’s general attitude to genuinely do something for the environment and to promote digital literacy. GreenDice’s goal is not just to show numbers. The company genuinely cares about how used and working on computers re-enter circulation and how to properly dispose of old computers, monitors, or printers.

What has the cooperation journey been like? When did you join? What activities have you carried out together?

We joined in 2022. The cooperation has been very smooth and mutually beneficial – we educate our employees and have discussed how we can generate growth in the IT sector. How, for example, to organize lectures on IT management, etc., for young people together.

We have also jointly raised awareness about the need for digital cleaning, etc. There are other activities as well, and we meet regularly.

What changes has cooperation with GreenDice brought about?

We think more about the environmental impact of our various activities in our company. We try to gradually convey this knowledge to our employees. As a large company, Forus has a lot of computers and other equipment, and our task is to use and maintain them properly. It’s important to think about the environmental impact if we use our equipment carelessly or break it.

Of course, we want to use our company’s money wisely, but it’s also important to consider environmental protection.

In summary, we are very pleased that we joined forces with GreenDice a few years ago. Together, we can contribute to a more sustainable society and genuinely make a difference.

On the picture (from left): Einar Laagriküll (Member of the Board at Forus), Argo Alaniit (CEO of GreenDice) and Raul Naarits (IT  service manager at Forus).