Sustainable AV systems: why BRIX zero isn’t for sale

As an AV manager, you’re looking for sustainable AV systems. But traditional AV equipment models often work against you: buying means ownership, depreciation, replacement, and ultimately, waste. Many systems are replaced preventively after a fixed cycle, even though they still function perfectly fine technically.

The result? Unnecessary costs, a growing amount of waste, and stagnation in your sustainability goals.

Then you encounter BRIX zero. Sustainable AV systems that are modular and circular… but you can’t buy them. You can only lease them. Why? And more importantly: what does that mean for you? Because you’re used to purchasing your AV systems.

Kjeld Veenhuis is an expert in AV and was involved in creating this circular concept from the start. With his work, he helps organisations (from innovative scale-ups to large corporates) to approach AV not only more energy-efficiently, but fundamentally different: as a service, rather than a possession.

Together with Kjeld, we wrote this article, in which you’ll discover:

• Why BRIX zero’s sustainable AV systems are not sold seperately (and why that actually makes a lot of sense)

• What the difference is compared to traditional AV purchases

• How a circular lease model works in practice

• How to prevent waste and accelerate sustainability

After reading this article, you’ll know why BRIX zero is more than a new AV product. You discover how this sustainable AV concept responds to the cirular economy, cost control, and CSRD responsibilities. And how you set up AV systems that don’t become outdated, but keep improving. With maximum control over impact and budget.

A digital solution with less impact

At retailer Marie-Stella-Maris in Amsterdam, the question regarding sustainability came from an unexpected direction: how can we print less without compromising on appearance?

The physical communication in the store such as posters, stickers, and displays got replaced often. Good for marketing, but not for the environment. They wished for: less waste, less logistical movements, and more flexibility.

Together, we looked at the possibilities for digital signage. But instead of just delivering a screen, we suggested something else: a solution that fits within a circular strategy. That was BRIX zero – a modular lease model where the hardware is used in such a way that aging, waste, and CO₂ emissions are minimised.

And that was exactly what this organisation was looking for regarding sustainable AV systems: a digital solution with measurable impact, without unnecessary burden.

From ownership to usage: this is Product-as-a-Service

The model behind BRIX zero is called Product-as-a-Service (PaaS). Instead of owning equipment, you use it as a service.

AVEX remains the owner, and is therefore responsible for:

• Performance and quality

• Maintenence and repairs

• Transparancy regarding energy-usage, origin, and compensation

• Reuse of equipment

In practice: your organisation has 3 screens that get replaced after 4 years. In the traditional model, they end up in the waste bin or must be processed internally.

With BRIX zero, AVEX takes back these screens, assesses their condition, takes care of refurbishment, and redeploys them for a new customer. That’s how circular economy works. You don’t have to take care of anything; it’s all included in the model.

What’s the difference between sustainable AV systems and traditional purchase?

Traditional AV purchase vs BRIX zero

Let’s make it concrete. Here you see all the differences in broad terms:

What does this mean for you as AV manager?

If you’re responsible for audiovisual systems within your organisation, you’ll probably recognize the following:

• Pressure to make it more sustainable (think of CSRD and ESG policy)
• Budget is small or unstable
• Outdated equipment causes frustration and inefficiency
• There is little insight in the actual impact of AV

Traditional AV purchase (CAPEX)

✔ You are the full owner of the equipment
✔ Freedom to decide how and when to replace it
✔ After depreciation, the equipment can theoretically continue to be used ‘for free’
✖ Large upfront investment (CAPEX)
✖ Loss of value due to depreciation
✖ Responsible for maintenance and updates yourself
✖ Responsible for sustainable disposal and recycling yourself

Circular AV model (as a service, OPEX)

✔ Predictable monthly costs (OPEX), no large initial investments
✔ Equipment gets a second or third life (circular reuse)
✔ Insights in sustainability and origin through certificates (such as GSES)
✔ Maintenance, updates, and replacements taken care of by supplier
✖ You don’t own the hardware
✖ Dependant on contract/subsciption
✖ Less flexible in budget: recurring costs can be more difficult than a singular CAPEX

Conclusion: there’s no right or wrong. CAPEX offers ownership and freedom, OPEX offers predictability and sustainability. The best choice for new, sustainable AV systems depends on your financial strategy, sustainability goals, and the extent to which you want to take control and responsibility yourself.

From linear ownership to circular use

To better understand switching to OPEX or Product-as-a-Service solutions, we need to look at the broader movement within the AV world: from linear ownership to circular use.

Traditionally, AV follows a linear model: purchase → use → waste. This means that devices are depreciated after a number of years and are often replaced by new ones, while parts that still work are wasted.

More and more organisations therefore opt for a circular approach:

• You only use what you really need

• Equipment gets a second or third life (refurbished or reused)

• You get insights in CO₂ impact, origin, and performance through recognised platforms such as GSES

This helps to prevent waste and increase your control over the sustainability of your AV systems.

The next step towards your sustainable AV systems

BRIX zero offers a fundamentally different approach to AV equipment. By leasing instead of buying, you create a circular cycle in which equipment gets used optimally, waste gets prevented, and you get full transparency regarding sustainability performance.

The model solves concrete problems: predictable costs, no depreciation risks, no worries about aging, and a measurable contribution to your sustainability goals. At the same time, you get a working AV solution that is scalable with your organisation.

As BRIX zero expert at AVEX, Kjeld Veenhuis helps organisations implement circular AV strategies. From the first development of the concept, he has guided companies and organisations to not approach AV as ownership anymore, but as service – with a clear contribution to less waste, a longer lifespan of equipment, and a reduced CO₂ footprint.

Do you want to discover how your organisation can use a circular AV solution to contribute to sustainability, without unnecessary costs and waste?

Schedule a non-binding meeting with Kjeld.

Together, you’ll determine which steps suit your organisation; even if that means you wait a little longer to implement it. Because it’s not about making a fast purchase, but about the right choice for your situation.