Does your server need replacing? The right to repair says no
The new European Right to Repair Directive is putting an end to one of the most expensive myths in the IT sector: that switching to “more efficient” hardware is always more sustainable. Right to Repair makes products easier and faster to refurbish. And in the IT world, this means completely rethinking our relationship with hardware.
The myth of “new hardware is always better”.
For years we have heard the same speech: “this server is already 5 years old, it has to be replaced”. But is that really the case, have you looked on paper if it is really worth changing that IBM Power9 just because it is no longer supported? Because you may be in for a surprise. The reality is much more complex and, above all, more expensive than it looks.
When you buy a new server, you don’t just pay sticker price. You pay:
- The carbon footprint of its manufacture
- Transportation from the factory
- Waste management of previous equipment
- Migration and configuration costs
- Lost productivity time during the transition
On the contrary, when you renew your existing hardware, you make the most of an already amortized investment and drastically reduce the environmental impact.
Let’s do green math: numbers don’t lie
The new right-to-repair regulations can extend the useful life of products by up to 10 years, which in IT terms translates into:
- 60-80% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the purchase of new equipment
- Significant savings in operating costs
- 90% reduction in e-waste generated
Why are these numbers so favorable? Because the manufacturing phase accounts for 70-85% of the total carbon footprint of any IT equipment. Keeping a server running for 8-10 years instead of 3-5 is literally doubling its environmental efficiency.
Beyond hardware: software also counts
The right to repair in IT is not limited to hardware. It includes:
- Extended support for operating systems outside the official cycle. At SIXE we are committed to support outside the imposed life cycle and we can extend the useful life of Linux, AIX, Ceph, and other systems.
- Independent maintenance of databases such as DB2, Oracle or Informix.
- Security upgrades without the need to migrate the entire platform
- Continuous performance optimization instead of mass replacements
The right to redress: more than a law, a philosophy
“My supplier says it’s insecure.”
Manufacturers have obvious business incentives to sell new hardware. However, a properly maintained 2018 server can be more secure than a poorly configured new one.
“No spare parts available.”
With independent maintenance providers, the availability of spare parts extends years beyond what is offered by the original manufacturers.
“Performance will be lower.”
A 5-year-old optimized system can outperform a new one without proper configuration.
Our sustainable commitment at SIXE: to make it last as long as the hardware itself allows
At SIXE, we have been advocating this philosophy for years. Not because it’s a trend, but because the numbers prove it: an approach based on preventive maintenance, continuous optimization and intelligent reuse of resources generates better ROI than the traditional buy-use-pull cycle.
Our commitment to “make it last forever” is not marketing. It is engineering applied with economic and environmental criteria.
Conclusion: the future is circular, not linear.
The right to repair in IT is not a regulatory imposition. It is an opportunity to rethink how we manage enterprise technology. An approach where maintaining, optimizing and extending the life of equipment is not only greener, but also more cost-effective.
The question is not whether your company will adapt to this reality. The question is whether it will do so before or after your competition.
Ready to make the leap to more sustainable and efficient IT? Discover our sustainable technology services and start optimizing your infrastructure today.
And if your system is giving you problems, we can assess its efficiency before replacing it.
