By Julie Harrison
I can remember when some 20 years ago, the term “corporate social responsibility (CSR)” first started to be discussed in business meetings. It addressed a need for organizations to understand and address how their operations impacted the world around them and for private sector businesses, it was a critical departure from a common (and natural) myopic internal focus on revenue. Not long afterward, the company I worked for at the time was one of the first to issue a CSR reporting section as part of its Annual Report.
Today, the broader term of “environmental, social and governance (ESG)” is of increasing importance, with more than 90% of S&P companies publishing ESG reports in some form. A major part of the ESG growth has been driven by the environmental component. Climate change should certainly be a pressing issue in all of our individual and corporate decisions, but now governments are also weighing in to force their country’s companies to allocate resources to this critical issue. As a result, 58% of CEOs in a recent report said they have – or are in the process of developing – a data-driven, enterprise-level strategy for reducing emissions and mitigating climate risk.
With executives scouring their organizations for ways to improve their ESG reporting, corporately owned mobile devices are worth taking a closer look at.
DaaS is a purchasing model that many business customers choose for the same reasons an individual consumer would choose to lease a car rather than own it. It’s a smart, hassle-free way for organizations to manage and optimize their device infrastructure while redirecting their internal resources to their core business objectives. Plus, it’s a fixed monthly fee. Beyond the sheer convenience, there are several reasons why many customers find that a DaaS model is the right choice for their business. They include: 
• No need for upfront capital investment: The DaaS model eliminates the need to invest in device hardware and software upfront. Instead, you pay a predictable monthly fee, making it easier to budget and manage expenses.
• Comprehensive support and security: When you choose DaaS, you also receive ongoing technical support, helpdesk services, and security features to protect both your physical devices as well as your corporate data.
• Streamlined IT procurement: Your organization can consolidate their device purchases through a single provider, which significantly simplifies vendor management and contract negotiations.
Green leasing (also sometimes referred to as ‘smart’ or ‘net zero’ leasing) is an emerging purchasing model that addresses the eco-cost of technology assets with certified carbon offsets, while also responsibly disposing and recycling legacy equipment to reduce e-waste and put minerals and metals back into the value chain. When we consider that 1.5 billion smart phones are produced globally, mobile devices are definitely worth looking at when it comes to ESG and your corporate reporting.
If your company is looking to improve their ESG, a green lease can offer a number of interesting features, not the least of which are: 
• Extended device lifecycle: Proper maintenance and repairs are an anchor of a green lease program so that frequent replacement and e-waste generation are at a minimum.
• Built-in technology refresh: As part of the lease agreement, scheduled technology refreshes can be built in. At the scheduled refresh point, you hand your mobile devices back, gain access to the latest technology, and typically enjoy the same monthly fee. Plus, your old devices will be responsibly recycled or refurbished on your behalf.
• Net zero goals: Many organizations are aiming to achieve net zero, and green leasing can help get you there. The carbon emissions associated with the usage of each of your corporate devices can be offset in full or in part through innovative programs such as tree planting, renewable energy projects, industrial energy efficiency and more.
• Environmental reporting: A key element in a green lease is certified reporting on the environmental impact of the leased mobile devices and the efforts to minimize it.
At PiiComm, we’re energized by the exponential positive impact that green leasing can have on a global scale. As a result, we’re working to do our part and raise awareness of green leasing with all of our customers, all across Canada. It’s my personal hope that in 20 years from now — just like CSR became widely adopted — that green leasing is an immediately recognizable concept in the business world and a common practice.
Julie Harrison is head of marketing at PiiComm, where her role involves increasing brand awareness for PiiComm and its five pillar offerings for managed mobility services: strategic sourcing, staging and deployment, lifecycle management, MDM as a service, and secure decommissioning.
