Environmental Protection

As a trading and service company, Bechtle AG is less affected by environmental protection requirements than manufacturing companies. Nevertheless, Bechtle is committed to environmental protection. As far as possible, the group endeavours to employ its resources in a responsible manner.

The company does not offer any products containing hazardous or potentially hazardous substances that could endanger the environment or consumers. Bechtle requires its suppliers to comply with the EU directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) of March 2003. In addition to the agreement, all purchased components are regularly inspected in order to make sure that they do not contain any hazardous substances. Bechtle ensures eco-friendly disposal of the products at the end of their life cycle, thereby fulfilling its obligations under the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG). This company has been listed in the waste electrical equipment register (EAR) since 2005.

Bechtle attaches a lot of importance to green IT. This year alone, Germany’s computing centres consumed the equivalent of the entire annual production of about three medium-sized coal-fired power plants. Recent estimations suggest that the number of servers will increase by another 50 per cent by 2010, resulting in even more power consumption and CO₂ emission. Bechtle AG responds to this growing need for low-consumption IT products with an increased service and product offer of eco-friendlier and more economic IT environments. From consulting to procurement to implementation, Bechtle covers all stages of the economic and ecological optimisation of IT infrastructures. Thus, computing centres are analysed for their energy consumption and possible savings potential. For example, savings can be achieved through server virtualisation and consolidation. Furthermore, Bechtle’s current product offer features various energy-saving products, such as thin clients.

Bechtle’s contribution to environmental protection is not limited to its core business. The extension to the logistics building in Neckarsulm, Germany, was accompanied by further expansion of the photovoltaic solar system that was commissioned in January 2008. Thus, the total capacity of this eco-friendly system was increased from 380 kWp to 450 kWp.