Repairing for a Greener Future Starts with Us

By Robert Coolidge, President & CEO, Encompass Supply Chain Solutions

As Earth Day approaches, we’re reminded that the choices we make today will shape the world we leave for future generations. For leaders across industries, it’s an opportunity to reflect on how we can collectively address the growing environmental challenges of our time. In the replacement parts supply chain, these challenges are particularly pressing.

The rise of a “throwaway” culture has led to an alarming increase in electronic waste. According to the United Nations, the world generates over 50 million metric tons of electronic waste annually, yet only about 20% is recycled properly. The rest is discarded, often improperly, contributing to overflowing landfills, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. While this is a systemic issue, it also presents a profound opportunity to rethink how we approach product life cycles—particularly through the lens of repair versus replacement.

At Encompass, we believe sustainability and operational excellence aren’t mutually exclusive—they are inherently connected. Repairing products, rather than replacing them, has a significant impact on reducing waste, extending the lifecycle of valuable materials, and minimizing the environmental footprint of manufacturing and logistics. This is why we advocate for creating an ecosystem where repair is not just an option but the preferred choice.

However, this shift requires more than just individual actions. It requires a collaborative, industry-wide approach. For repair to become the go-to solution, manufacturers, distributors, service providers, and repair technicians must work together to make repairs more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective. Innovation in product design, increased availability of quality parts, and better logistical coordination can make the repair process smoother and more attractive for consumers and businesses alike.

In addition, data and technology play a pivotal role in this transformation. Smarter forecasting tools, AI-driven inventory management, and predictive analytics can enable a more sustainable, circular supply chain. By leveraging these technologies, we can predict demand more accurately, reduce excess stock, and optimize parts distribution to ensure that repairs happen more quickly and with less environmental impact.

The solution to our environmental challenges lies in collaboration and smart innovation. By investing in technologies that enhance the repair process and fostering partnerships across industries, we can create a sustainable, circular economy that benefits consumers, businesses, and the planet.

Repairing products is not just good for the environment—it’s also good for business. It builds trust with customers, reduces costs, and helps companies stay resilient in an increasingly volatile world. As we look to the future, it’s clear that the circular economy will become an essential part of every industry’s operation.

On Earth Day and every day, we must renew our commitment to sustainability. The choice to repair instead of replacing is a powerful step toward a greener, more resilient future.

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Robert Coolidge
President & CEO, Encompass Supply Chain Solutions