30. May 2025
Ms. Achten, software licenses are not usually considered major climate offenders – what contribution can they actually make to CO₂ reduction?
Melanie Achten: We recently had this calculated by ClimatePartner. The result showed that since our founding in 2017, the Microsoft licenses we trade as used software have helped save around 318 tons of CO₂e.
What exactly was analyzed?
The calculations are based on defined environmental factors. ClimatePartner included parameters such as the following:
- The number of licenses sold by MRM since 2017
- A detailed breakdown by license type – including application servers, access licenses, office applications, and operating systems
- The data volumes generated through uploads and downloads, measured in gigabytes
- Usage behavior, for example through the so-called “Average User Time”
- Processor load (CPU) – separated into desktop and mobile applications
This comprehensive calculation provides a reliable picture of the software’s CO₂ footprint – and of the savings achieved when it does not have to be newly produced and distributed.
Why is the topic of “sustainability” playing an increasingly important role in IT tenders?
I would say because sustainability is becoming mandatory. More and more large companies require ESG proof from their suppliers. Even though the CSRD directive did not come into force for mid-sized companies at the beginning of 2025 as originally planned, the topic is still reaching the mid-market. This so-called trickle-down effect makes sustainability a prerequisite for many tenders – including in IT. With used, fully documented software from MRM, these requirements can be easily met and communicated when it comes to Microsoft licensing.
This is where your new brand “green licensing by MRM” comes into play?
Exactly. With “green licensing by MRM” we make it visible that the reuse of Microsoft licenses is sustainable. This aspect is still not considered enough in IT strategy – yet SMEs in particular can benefit greatly from it. Used software programs are a powerful lever for significantly reducing both costs and CO₂ emissions.
What should companies know about the legally compliant trade in used software?
Above all, companies should know that it is not a good idea to obtain keys from (online) providers that are simply too cheap to be true. A reputable reseller can offer the latest version of software – for example Office 2024 or Windows Server 2025 – at around 30 percent below the price of a new license. Anything significantly cheaper should raise concerns, because in many cases only a key is being sold rather than an actual license. A key alone is not sufficient to pass a manufacturer audit.
This is why it is crucial that the complete chain of rights is documented. It begins with the license being placed on the market within the European Economic Area by the manufacturer (in our case Microsoft). At MRM we verify that the original purchase can be documented without gaps and we take over all relevant proof when acquiring licenses. This includes original contracts and invoices, framework agreement keys, and a destruction declaration confirming that the software sold to us has been deleted by the previous owner. We provide all of these documents to the second buyer. This ensures that MRM customers are fully audit-compliant and properly licensed.
What often goes wrong in practice? What mistakes do companies make in license management?
In some companies, license management is like a black hole. Many IT departments do not document which Microsoft licenses they actually own – or whether they are using them correctly. When customers approach us, we often find both over-licensing and under-licensing. Both situations are expensive.
Software is one of the largest cost factors in IT – and at the same time a valuable asset that can be unlocked and monetized. Companies that bring structure into their licensing environment can sell surplus or unused licenses and significantly increase their budgets. We support customers throughout this process, precisely because we know that license inventories are often not perfectly documented.
It sounds as if even Excel would be an improvement…
You could say that. Consistently working with Excel is better than having no system at all. At least CIOs would then be able to understand what they have licensed in the event of an audit or a security incident. They would also have a clear overview of which software could potentially be sold.
If companies do not have such an overview, we help them gain transparency, optimize their licensing environment, and compile the necessary sales documentation. Of course, the safest approach is to use a professional license management tool.
Everything related to the buying and selling of reused Microsoft products has been bundled under our new brand “green licensing by MRM” since April 2025.
Published in IT Mittelstand.
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