Image: Sue Gowling and Will Plant

This article first appeared on the Sustainable Tech 4 Good website on Thursday 8 May 2025

Connecting Cambridgeshire has teamed up with Sustainable Tech 4 Good to launch a new partnership aimed at tackling digital exclusion and reducing e-waste across the region.

The initiative will repurpose surplus tech from businesses and organisations, making good-quality devices available to those who need them, either at low cost or through donation. By giving old tech a new life, the partnership supports digital inclusion while contributing to a more sustainable, circular economy.

The partnership forms part of Connecting Cambridgeshire’s wider digital inclusion strategy to ensure more people can access the digital tools they need to thrive – whether that’s for work, learning, healthcare, or everyday life.

Will Plant, Digital Inclusion Lead for Connecting Cambridgeshire said: “Digital inclusion underpins everything we do as a local authority programme. That’s why it’s vital our work also supports wider council objectives – such as tackling climate change, promoting the circular economy, and moving towards net zero.

“This device repurposing pathway is a brilliant example: it enables organisations and businesses to reduce their environmental impact when upgrading tech, while also making good quality, affordable devices available to those who need them to get online. It’s a practical, sustainable solution that benefits everyone. ST4G have already supported charities and local authorities in our area with access to 1,409 devices to date, so this partnership is a logical next step in expanding that impact across our region.”

Sustainable Tech 4 Good (ST4G) works with businesses, taking all their excess tech post-upgrade, from devices to networking and server. After data-secure refurbishment, legacy devices are redeployed through charities and local authorities to help people in need, addressing digital inclusion. Tech collected still holding value, once through the ST4G solution, is purchased and made available for sale as an affordable, sustainable item through Tech 4 Change, ST4G’s online sales platform. Charities that partner with ST4G can receive further tech donations generated by Tech 4 Change sales.

Sue Gowling, Founder of Sustainable Tech 4 Good, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Connecting Cambridgeshire to further the sustainable reuse of excess tech from businesses in Cambridgeshire, extending digital inclusion in our county. We hope that this partnership will encourage more businesses to engage with our sustainable solutions for their excess tech post upgrade, enabling more people escape the blight of digital exclusion, while also helping our environment. Join the Sustainable Digital Inclusion Revolution™!”

To date, Sustainable Tech 4 Good has donated 6,963 devices nationally (1,409 in Cambridgeshire) partnered with 127 charities and not-for-profit organisations (48 in Cambridgeshire) to address digital inclusion. They’ve also saved over 11,301kg of electronic waste from landfill and saved 1,490,082kg of CO2 emissions and counting.

Get involved

If your business or charity would like to help increase digital inclusion and promote sustainable practices in Cambridgeshire, please get in touch with Sue Gowling on 01438 741718 or email sue@sustainabletech4good.co.uk or contact Will Plant on 01480 379094 or via email Will.Plant@cambridgeshire.gov.uk and quote reference ST4GCC.

Find out more about the new partnership with Sustainable Tech 4 Good and the Tech Repurposing Pathway.