When most people think about sustainability, they think about recycling bins, conservation efforts, or protecting natural resources. Those things matter deeply, but sustainability is also about people. It is about whether families have the tools they need to learn, work, access healthcare, and stay connected in an increasingly digital world. That is why the work of CACRC connects so naturally to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a shared framework for building a healthier planet, stronger communities, and greater opportunity for people around the world. At CACRC, sustainability is not a side effort. It is deeply connected to who we are and how we serve Louisiana. Through responsible electronics recycling, refurbishment, and digital access initiatives, our work connects to many of the 17 goals in meaningful and practical ways.
Goal 1: No Poverty
Whenever possible, CACRC donates devices to organizations involved in workforce development and education. We know that a computer can connect people to essential tools for resume building, job applications, remote work, certification programs, and career advancement. In today’s world, access to a device can open the door to greater stability and opportunity.
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
While our work does not directly address hunger, it does support healthier environmental systems that food production depends on. By keeping harmful plastics, metals, and chemicals out of landfills, we help reduce contamination of soil, air, and water. Protecting these natural resources helps support healthier agricultural systems and stronger food security over time.
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
A device in the home gives individuals and families access to telehealth services, health information, patient portals, and other online resources that support well-being. Technology has become an important part of how people manage appointments, prescriptions, benefits, and access to care.
Goal 4: Quality Education
Access to technology supports K-12 learning in many ways, from completing homework at home to engaging in research and online learning. We partner with schools, libraries, and after-school programs because we believe every child should have the tools needed for academic success and lifelong learning.
Goal 5: Gender Equality
CACRC is proud to support programs that empower girls and women. Recently, some of our tablets were donated to Empowering Girls Book Club. We have also partnered with Girl Scouts of Louisiana East and programs that encourage girls to explore STEM opportunities. Access to technology can help open doors for leadership, learning, and future career pathways.
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Keeping electronics out of landfills helps prevent harmful chemicals from entering waterways. CACRC also supports this goal through circular economy practices that reduce waste and conserve resources, including water. Responsible recycling helps protect the systems our communities rely on every day.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
One of the materials we focus on at CACRC is solar cells. Recycling these components helps support the continued use and responsible management of clean energy technologies. As energy systems continue to evolve, responsible handling of these materials remains an important part of sustainability.
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
A computer has become an essential tool for many career-related activities, including applying for jobs, completing trainings, working remotely, and pursuing career advancement. CACRC works to make sure families across Louisiana have access to affordable technology that supports economic mobility and long-term opportunity.
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Recycling today involves much more than separating paper, plastic, and cans. Electronics recycling intersects with innovation, sustainability, environmental protection, and the future of responsible resource management. CACRC believes that building stronger systems for reuse and recycling helps create a more innovative and sustainable future for everyone.
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
In Louisiana, 23% of households do not have a computer in the home. In some communities, the gap is even greater. A computer is no longer a luxury. It is an essential tool for job access, education, telehealth, digital library services, and everyday life. CACRC helps expand digital access so more households can fully participate in today’s connected world.
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Creating more sustainable communities is at the core of CACRC’s work. By supporting a circular economy and expanding access to technology, we help build communities where people can thrive environmentally, economically, and socially. Sustainability is strongest when it reaches both the environment and the people who live in it.
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
CACRC seeks to refurbish quality devices to the highest standard whenever possible. Refurbishing and reusing electronics keeps valuable materials in use longer and helps keep harmful plastics and metals out of landfills, reducing risks to soil, water, and air. It is a practical way to reduce waste while extending the life of technology.
Goal 13: Climate Action
Electronics contain components that can release harmful toxins if they are not disposed of properly. In 2025, CACRC kept more than 1.5 million pounds of e-waste out of landfills. Responsible recycling and reuse are important steps in reducing environmental harm and supporting climate action. Small decisions about how we handle retired electronics can have a much larger environmental impact.
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Disposing of retired electronics properly and keeping them out of landfills helps prevent e-plastics and harmful materials from entering waterways, which protects plant and animal life below water. Healthy oceans and waterways are essential to life on Earth. They produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and help regulate the planet’s climate. Protecting life below water is vital to protecting our shared future.
Goal 15: Life on Land
Disposing of retired electronics properly and keeping them out of landfills helps protect soil, plant life, wildlife, and the broader ecosystems that exist on land. When electronics are dumped irresponsibly, harmful materials can seep into the ground and contribute to pollution that damages habitats and threatens biodiversity. By ensuring electronics are responsibly recycled and reused, CACRC helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect the land-based ecosystems our communities depend on.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Strong communities depend on trustworthy institutions and responsible practices. CACRC promotes accountability through secure, ethical electronics recycling and responsible stewardship of resources. By partnering with schools, libraries, nonprofits, and community organizations, we help strengthen systems that support access, opportunity, and public trust.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
At CACRC, we believe partnerships are one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change. We work alongside schools, libraries, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations to bridge the digital divide, promote sustainability, and help build a more connected Louisiana. Meaningful progress happens when organizations work together with a shared commitment to the common good.
The Sustainable Development Goals remind us that building a better future requires us to care for both people and the planet. That is what makes this work so meaningful. At CACRC, responsible recycling is about more than keeping electronics out of landfills. It is also about creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and helping more people access the tools they need for everyday life. We may not touch every goal in the same way, but we are proud that our work contributes to so many of them. As we continue serving Louisiana, we remain committed to doing this work with purpose, partnership, and hope for the future.
