The Great Cable Challenge: What's next?

As the dust settles on International E-Waste Day 2024 - which took place on the 14th of October 2024 - Doncaster businesses find themselves in a pivotal position in the ongoing battle against e-waste (electronic waste).

The Great Cable Challenge, an initiative that swept through this community and the rest of the UK, has left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness about electrical device usage, wastage, and overall consumption.

However, just because this year’s challenge has passed us by does not mean we should rest on our laurels.

So what does this mean for Doncaster’s businesses going forward? How can we build on this momentum to foster a more sustainable business community where responsible and ethical electrical device usage becomes more seamless? 

As an independent, nonprofit membership organisation, Doncaster Chamber strives to educate and lobby local and national governments about the key issues facing the business community. This is a cause that many members are passionate about, so it’s only prudent we shed some light on this and what active participation could bring to the wider community in the city.

Reflecting on our success

The Great Cable Challenge set an ambitious goal: to recycle one million cables across the UK. According to recent research, the UK bins or stashes away 627 million cables, which is enough to stretch to the moon and back. The national challenge was inspired by the belief that if 1 million people recycled one cable, it could save at least 5,000kg of copper - a scarce resource - from going to waste. 

With the demand for copper increasingly high and the environmental impact of raw material mining adding more pressure, it only illustrates the point of utilising what we already have. The average UK home stores 15 cables, and bins a further eight, which could instead be recycled and repurposed into new electrical items that we, as a tech-led society, value. 

On this year’s International E-Waste Day, as part of the Great Cable Challenge, we are proud to say that Doncaster rose to the occasion, with businesses and residents alike scouring their offices and homes for unused, forgotten and obsolete chargers, power cords, wires and more. The response was remarkable, highlighting the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Local businesses played a particularly vital role in the movement, from optimising and enhancing their inter-departmental recycling initiatives to participating in voluntary collection points. This collective community effort not only contributed to the national targets but also sparked important conversations about preserving valuable resources and consuming more responsibly. 

The bigger picture: Beyond cables

While the secular focus on cables brought attention to specific aspects of e-waste management, it also opened our eyes to the broader challenges and opportunities within it. Recently, we have seen substantial shifts in consumer behaviour, with more people opting for re-commerce and repurposing of electronic goods like mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, tablets, and other devices. In fact, recent statistics by electronics retailer MPB highlighted that over 70% of consumers engaged in buying or selling used electronics in 2023, further illustrating movements towards a more circular economy.

This trend presents both opportunities and challenges for Doncaster businesses. On the one hand, product life cycles and business models may benefit from a rethink to be more circular and sustainable. On the other hand, businesses that do so methodically could discover new avenues for innovation, competition and customer engagement, while entering a growing new market.

Doncaster's unique position

Our city’s rich industrial heritage, coupled with its thriving and ambitious business community, puts us in a unique position to influence future e-waste initiatives. The skills and infrastructure that we have built over many generations of manufacturing excellence can be utilised to create a more sustainable, circular economy.

Of all the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority members, Doncaster is well ahead of the curve. The city has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, a full decade ahead of the national targets set forth by the UN as part of the Paris Climate Agreement. 

Statistically, Doncaster is in the top 10 for renewable energy installations in the UK, with over 7000 houses and 190 businesses being entirely self-reliant and self-sufficient on their own electricity. Numerous businesses demonstrate that addressing e-waste is important, but it’s just one goal in the community’s collective efforts to create a more sustainable, profitable future. 

The Doncaster Economic Strategy 2030 sets out the mission of creating a regenerative and inclusive economy, where not only negative environmental impacts are limited but the well-being of people across all backgrounds is championed, ultimately creating economic growth for the city.

As such, businesses across the city are in a good position to take further steps in minimising e-waste post-challenge, adopting more circular and purposeful strategies to position them well for a more carbon-conscious future.

Lessons learned and path forward

The Great Cable Challenge has taught us valuable lessons that can guide Doncaster businesses moving forward.

• Successes found in this challenge relied on cooperation between businesses, local authorities and community organisations like Doncaster Chamber. This model can be applied to other environmental initiatives.

• Education remains key, not just regarding e-waste and its destructive impact, but for more people learning about the valuable materials contained in their old cables and devices.

• Even recycling a single cable can make all the difference, collectively leading to substantial improvements in environmental conservation.

• The challenge illustrated the need for creativity when it comes to collection and recycling, which can be used to inspire new products, solutions and business models promoting e-waste management and circular economy principles.

As such, Doncaster businesses would be wise to look retrospectively at their e-waste practices and take actionable steps if they are to prosper in a city which values environmental stewardship very highly.

1. Conduct a thorough audit of your electronic equipment and cables.

2. Establish a plan for the responsible disposal and recycling of outdated or obsolete items.

3. Look for opportunities to incorporate circular business models as part of your existing ones, whether it’s changing product designs or encouraging take-back schemes.

4. Engage with other local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to share ideas and collaborate on new e-waste and other environmental initiatives.

5. Advocate for and support the development of local e-waste recycling programmes and centres.

The road ahead

While the Great Cable Challenge may have concluded for another year, Doncaster’s journey towards a more sustainable future has only just begun. For all businesses in this region, we can lead by example, turning the challenges of e-waste into opportunities for growth and cultivating a more circular economy. 

As we move forward, it’s important to keep the spirit of the Great Cable Challenge alive and well, where recycling, reusing and reducing e-waste doesn’t take a back seat. Together, we can ensure that this vibrant community remains at the forefront of sustainability and prosperity.