In a world increasingly dependent on data, demand for data storage seems to know no bounds. But the growing importance of enterprise storage to everyday life comes at an ecological cost— the impact of power-intensive data centers on the conservation of finite resources.
As data centers around the world expand their footprint to host the relentless growth of zettabytes, industry focus has turned toward mitigating the environmental impact of data storage.
Enter the trusty hard disk drive, launched as a storage technology by IBM back in the 1950s. Advocates for a circular economy stress the key role that HDDs can play in developing reuse pathways for end-of-life storage media that would otherwise be disposed.
This is the argument that industry group iNEMI, the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative, is advancing as it outlines the conclusions of its working group into value recovery for HDD.
Hard Disk Drives (HDD) as “Technical Nutrients”
With many hundreds of millions of HDDs in worldwide circulation, the iNEMI report authors illustrate how hard disk drives can be used as “technical nutrients” in a circular computing ecosystem.
According to iNEMI, hard disk drives are surprisingly good candidates for the circular economy, with a standard form factor and consistency in manufactured design. Perhaps as importantly, market demand for data storage continues to run ahead of supply.
That said, organizations are not exactly clamoring to reuse hard disk drives. Although the secondary market for HDDs may be flourishing at the margins, it only touches a fraction of the total stock available. Among industry barriers to HDD reuse are apprehensions around data security and a lack of coordination in the supply chain, iNEMI reports.
“Users frequently demand physical destruction even when complete, verifiable data wiping is possible economically and logistically. This leads to widespread HDD shredding, which precludes reuse of the HDDs, harvesting of components for reuse, and recovery of trace—but critical and strategic—materials,” the report authors state.
Bursting Misconceptions around Data Wiping
The data security concerns stem from long-held beliefs about vulnerabilities in the wiping process.
“A key impediment to HDD reuse is the industry-wide premise that shredding is the only option to ensure that data security is not compromised, thus avoiding legal and business liabilities,” the report states. “This mindset is causing enterprises to lose significant value along with the ability to recover valuable commodities.”
These fears, however, are no longer valid. Modern data sanitization software has advanced significantly in the past decade, and—provided a strong protocol is in place for ensuring drives get wiped within a secure and tightly-managed process—there should be no need to resort to the shredder. Destroying the drive is not good for the environment and removes any opportunity to recover meaningful value from the asset.
1TB HDDs that are reused internally hold nearly one hundred times the value of hard disk drives that are shredded for scrap, according to iNEMI research. The value recovery ratio increases further for larger capacity drives.
Aside from the financial benefits, adopting a policy of HDD reuse can support an organization’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. “To effectively demonstrate a circular economy, an enterprise must actively develop and incentivize supply chain solutions that are environmentally and economically sustainable for all participants in the chain.”
Creating New Norms around Used HDDs
Inside an organization, advocates for reuse must confidently make the business case for IT value recovery. Enterprises must also establish stronger internal processes and protocols for handling the data wiping and remarketing of storage media.
“Data wiping of functioning used HDDs works, but there must be processes and infrastructure in place to verify that the wiping has been performed correctly given the absolute need to assure data privacy,” says iNEMI, whose working group includes industry representatives from Seagate, Google, and Microsoft, among others.
The report recommends that organizations develop:
- A clear data sanitization and destruction policy based on an approved standard.
- Agreed methods for data sanitization in compliance with the stated policy.
- Protocols around the release of media to internal and third parties.
- Internal communication channels for reporting issues.
The most effective method of data sanitizing a hard drive is to use an encryption erasure method, iNEMI says. “When hard drives are purchased, encryption erasure should be considered part of the selection criteria, as it will make data sanitization less labor-intensive when decommissioned or reused.”
Refurbish Only After Assessing for Internal Reuse
Before a company even considers the resale market, it should look inward: can it reallocate used hard drives under its own roof?
Not only does internal reuse prolong the useful life of the device (thereby saving cost), it is generally subject to less restrictive wiping protocols as the asset remains within the organization.
“The enterprise should regularly validate the internal needs of the company for hard drive reuse,” the report authors write. “Back room or non-customer facing functions may be able to reuse the hard drive and defer the purchase of new drives by several years.”
The opportunity for reuse is particularly abundant in large data centers and among cloud and internet service providers who may frequently replace hard disk drives—often while still under warranty—to take advantage of newer, higher capacity drives within the same footprint.
If you need further convincing, consider the carbon impact of reuse rather than disposal. As the table below illustrates, the positive impact of internal HDD reuse on carbon emissions is tangible.
Aside from internal use, organizations should review the purchase terms of the HDD for any warranty claims available from the manufacturer. In-warranty assets, including excess inventory, can be refurbished by the OEM and licensed remanufacturers and issued back into the marketplace as factory recertified or white label.
“The most important aspect of hiring a remanufacturer is to have a contractual agreement that meets the enterprise’s needs,” the authors state. “This limits liability and assures that requirements are clearly known by both parties.”
The iNEMI authors advise companies to create documented protocols for the handling of end-of-use storage media at the time of initial purchase. Companies should also maintain systems for IT asset tracking at all stages of an equipment’s lifecycle.
Creating a Framework for Reuse
Although organizations can take steps to drive up HDD reuse, the primary push should come from the storage industry itself, according to iNEMI.
Industry recommendations published in the report and written by environmental consultant Wayne Rifer, formerly of the Green Electronics Council, include:
- Improving manufacturer documentation, including information on how to disassemble the unit and guidance on reuse and repair.
- Encouraging the inclusion of environmental requirements, such as product longevity, in purchase specifications.
- Setting industry standards for HDD value recovery and creating a new body to oversee the framework and commission key research.
- Promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing through workshops, webinars, and conferences.
It will be interesting to see whether the call for an industry body overseeing a standard for HDD reuse gains traction. While voluntary initiatives have some impact, a more formal approach may indeed prove necessary to move the needle on reuse.
Making Storage Circular
For iNEMI, the push to increase hard disk drive value recovery is just beginning. By developing deeper relationships with key stakeholders in the HDD supply chain, it hopes to commercialize new technologies, validate data wiping solutions, and establish scaleable ways of “realizing a circular economy for hard disk drives.”
It’s good to be green—and with talk about the circular economy reaching new heights, what better way to contribute to environmental sustainability (at the same time as lowering IT costs) than through HDD value recovery.
Browse the full iNEMI report for further insights into the industry drive for circular storage, or get in touch with Horizon today for expert assistance with implementing HDD reuse in your organization.
