Circular AV vs traditional AV: what’s the difference?

That’s a question that many facility and IT managers struggle with. You know that you have to do something, but what does “circular” mean in practice? And do circular AV solutions work just as well as traditional systems?

Kjeld Veenhuis, specialist in Sustainable AV and involved in developing BRIX zero – the first carbon neutral and circular AV solution in the Netherlands – gets asked these questions often. Throughout years of experience with developing truly circular AV systems, he knows the difference between both approaches from practice.

In this article, you’ll discover:

• The real difference between circular and traditional AV installations

• Why the traditional systems often get stuck (and what you can do about that)

• How circular AV systems work and what this means for your organisation

• Practical differences in costs, performances, and sustainable impact

• A concrete checklist to evaluate AV suppliers

After reading this article, you’ll know exactly what you need to pay attention to when making the choice between circular and traditional AV installations. And, you can make a substantiated decision that suits your sustainability goals.

The iPhone drawer: a relatable problem

Last month Kjeld sat down with a client. They discussed making their AV installations more sustainable, when suddenly the client opened a drawer.

“Look,” he said, “this is the exact problem.” In the drawer, there were five old iPhones. Different models, all still worked, but were replaced by newer versions.

“I know I should recycle them,” he sighed. “But where? How? At the provider? At Apple? I honeslty don’t make time for figuring that out. So, they stay behind here.”

He closed the drawer and looked at Kjeld. “And these are just five phones. We have 40 meeting rooms, each with at least five AV components. If I can’t even manage to properly dispose of five iPhones – how am I supposed to make 200 AV equipments circular?”

This story perfectly illustrates why traditional AV isn’t circular. The problem isn’t in the technology, but the shattered responsibility. If we make it hard for consumers to dispose of their phones in a circular way, how can we expect organisations to do this for their entire AV infrastructure?

Circular AV vs traditional AV: more than recycling

Before you can understand the differences, we first need to clarify what “circular” means. Because it’s about much more than just recycling.

With traditional AV installations:

• You buy equipment and become the owner

• After 3-7 years, you replace the system

• You have to dispose of old equipment

• Nobody is responsible for reusage

• Materials often disappear into the waste stream

With circular AV installations:

• You use equipment, and aren’t the owner

• Modular systems can get upgraded component per component

• The supplier stays responsible for the product

• Reusage and refurbishment are integrated in the system

• Materials stay in the loop

The difference is in the ownership and responsibility. In traditional systems, everyone passes on the responsibility. In a circular system, one party takes full responsibility. 

The ownership problem: why no one takes responsibility

Let’s be honest: the traditional system does not work well in terms of circularity. And that has practical reasons.

The ownership problem
As soon as you become the owner of AV equipment, you’re also responsible for what happens to it. But how do you process 50 old monitors, 20 media players, and several sound systems? Most organisation don’t have the knowledge, time, or means for that.

Shattered disposal chain
Every supplier points to the other. The monitor manufacturer says you should go to the installer. He then refers you to a waste processor. The waste processor can’t guarantee reuse. Result: no one takes responsibility.

No view on second life
What happens to your old AV equipment? Will it actually be reused? Or does it end up in the shredder after all? With traditional models, you don’t have view on that. You hope it goes well, but you’re unsure.

Short innovation cycles
AV equipment develops quickly. What is advanced today, can be outdated in two years. With traditional purchase you’re stuck to that investment, even if better technology is already available.

This doesn’t mean that all traditional AV suppliers or installers are bad. Many have good intentions. But the system itself is not designed for circularity.

The circular solution: ownership that does work

Circular AV systems solve these problems by changing the fundamental way of working.

Ownership for the supplier
The supplier remains the owner of the equipment. You pay for its use, not for ownership. This means that the supplier has an interest in making the equipment last as long as possible, and then disposing of it responsibly.

Modular design
Instead of replacing entire systems, you can upgrade individual components. For example: your video bar works fine, but the camera module can be upgraded to 4K. Or the software can be adjusted without replacing the hardware.

Controlled cycle
Because one party stays responsible for the entire life cycle, true control of reuse and recycling is achieved. Old components are refurbished for reuse or properly recycled.

Room for innovation
If beter technology becomes available, you can make the upgrade without being stuck to your earlier investments. You adjust your current systems to your new needs instead of replacing entire systems.

Costs and performances of circular vs traditional AV

“Sounds good,”I can hear you think, “but how much does it cost? And does it work just as well?”

Comparing costs
With traditional AV you pay for everything in advance. With circular AV you spread your costs over time. Each month circular solutions can, in comparison, end up being cheaper, especially if you keep the following things in mind:

• No big investments in advance

• Included maintenance and support

• Flexibility to upgrade without new purchases

• Lower disposal costs (as the supplier takes care of this)

Performances and reliability
Circular systems often use the same components as traditional systems. The difference is made in the way they’re owned. With circular systems, the supplier has interest in everything working optimally, because they’re responsible for performances.

Calculation example: 50 traditional vs circular meeting rooms

Traditional scenario:
An organisation replaces all their meeting room equipment every five years. For 50 rooms of € 3.500,00 per room this ends up being a € 175.000,00 investment. And that doesn’t even include the costs for depriciation, interest, service, licenses, and support. Merely the purchase and installation. After five years they need to figure out how to responsibly dispose of 200+ equipments. Oftentimes, it ends up with a waste processor withour any guarantee of reuse.

Circular scenario:
That same organisation chooses circular AV. They pay € 149,00 each month per room for a similar solution – service and support included. After three years they can upgrade certain components to newer technology. The suppliers takes care of everything surrounding disposal and reuse.

The result:

• Lower monthly costs

• Always have up-to-date technology

• No worries regarding disposal

• Measurable circular impact

Your evaluation tool: the right questions for AV suppliers

Do you want to know if an AV supplier truly works circular? With this checklist you can ask the right questions:

About ownership:

□ Does the supplier keep ownership of the equipment?
□ What happens with the equipment after the contract?
□ Can you guarantee reuse?

About modularity:

□ Can loose componants be replaced?
□ Is upgrading possible without complete replacement?
□ How flexible is the system regarding changing needs?

About transparency:

□ Do I get insights about what happens to old equipment?
□ Can you prove that reuse actually takes place?
□ Which certifications do you have for sustainability?

About costs:

□ What are the total costs for the entire lifespan?
□ Is maintenance and support included?
□ What does it cost to upgrade to new technology?

If the supplier can’t clearly answer these questions, then there’s probably not a circular system in place.

From hoping to knowing: take the circular step today

The difference between circular and traditional AV equipment goes beyond technology. It touches upon the core of responsibility and sustainability. Where traditional systems shatter the responsibility – which causes equipment to end up in waste streams – a circular appraoch allows control, security, and measurable impact.

That’s exactly why at AVEX, we switched to circular AV. With solutions like BRIX zero, we don’t only show that circular systems are more sustainable, but also more practical, flexible, and often more appealing financially.

👉 Next steps

• Download the step by step plan – Become a leader with your AV installations in 4 steps
• Schedule a meeting with one of our experts