CO₂ footprint of hardware maintenance — how we calculate

Why lifecycle extension is a CO₂ lever

For IT hardware, the largest share of lifecycle CO₂ falls on the production phase (raw materials, semiconductor manufacturing, logistics) — typically 60–80 % for server, storage and network hardware (source: Öko-Institut 2023, Eco-Invent v3.10). The use phase (data center power consumption) is secondary.

Extending hardware operation 3–7 years via TPM maintenance, instead of buying a refresh, defers the next production footprint wave. The effect is measurable and CSRD-reportable (ESRS E1 — Climate Change, "embodied emissions").

Calculation formula (TechCare model)

The formula is a conservative approximation: multiplier_class distributes the one-time production footprint of a hardware class linearly over its expected lifetime (10 years server, 12 years storage, 15 years network/power). Each additional TPM contract year defers an equivalent refresh by one year, and with it the next production wave.

Multipliers per hardware class

These values are industry LCA averages. Vendor-specific LCAs vary by ±20 %. For a robust CSRD disclosure we recommend requesting vendor-specific LCA data wherever available.

Vendor-specific LCA data points

Per OEM the data sources currently used, plus verification status. Verified means: data point from a published vendor LCA report (audited). Pre-Review means: industry average, will be confirmed or replaced via Öko-Institut review. Industry average means: no vendor-specific value available, generic class value.

For a mixed-vendor fleet, TechCare applies the vendor-specific multiplier (when marked Verified) and falls back to the class default (table above) when no vendor-specific value exists.

Example calculation

A data center environment with 50 servers (e.g., HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10) operated 5 years longer via TPM instead of refresh:

The same logic is integrated as a CO₂ block in the TCO calculator: per quote configuration you immediately see the calculated footprint saving.

CSRD and ESG reporting

Starting fiscal year 2024, many DACH companies are required under CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) to deliver their ESRS E1 Climate Change disclosures. IT hardware lifecycle extension falls under Mitigation actions and resources (E1-3) and under Energy and emissions (E1-5).

What you can adopt from the TechCare CO₂ methodology in the CSRD report:

• Scope 3 Category 1 (purchased goods & services) — avoided embodied emissions from non-purchased refresh hardware
• Scope 3 Category 11 (use of sold products) — extended use phase per device
• Methodology note: linear production footprint over lifetime, conservative industry LCA averages, document methodology version + reporting period in the disclosure

Recommended audit-trail data points

For each TPM contract we document on request:

• Hardware fleet per class (count_class)
• Contract term (extension_years)
• Multiplier per class (methodology version)
• Calculated CO₂_saved per class, summed over contract term
• Calculation date + methodology hash for audit reproducibility

We deliver this data as a CSRD-compliant PDF document on demand in the onboarding package. Inquiry via contact.

Sources and further reading

Sustainability badge for your report

You run hardware longer via TechCare instead of replacing it — that avoids embodied carbon (most of an IT device's CO₂ sits in manufacturing). Put this badge on your website or into your sustainability/CSRD report; it links to the methodology disclosed here. Deliberately qualitative — concrete, reviewed t-CO₂ figures are delivered per install base (see methodology above).

Note: the badge makes no quantified CO₂ claim — it points to our transparent methodology. Keeps your report greenwashing-safe.