2Sustain

Business today relies on electronic technology. Computers, cell phones, tablet devices and the like are now integral to how we do our jobs.

Ultimately, though, this dependence comes with a heavy cost. Every year, the US alone produces some 2.5 million tons of used electronics, all made from valuable resources such as precious metals and rare earth materials, as well as plastic and glass.

As a global leader in the design, development and consumption of new and improved electronic technologies, shouldn’t we be doing more to curb e-waste and advance a more sustainable approach to the design and manufacture of electronic products?

Fortunately, the US recently took a significant step in that direction.

Late last month, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),  along with Sprint, Dell and Sony Electronics announced the “National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship,” an exciting new private-public partnership aimed at curbing e-waste, encouraging sustainable electronics lifecycle management and promoting the domestic electronics market.

This new strategy includes the first voluntary commitments made by Dell, Sprint and Sony, and also commits the federal government to take specific actions that will encourage the more environmentally friendly design of electronic products, promote recycling of used or discarded electronics and advance a domestic market for electronics recycling that will protect public health and create jobs.

As outlined in the strategy report, the federal government will take the following steps: (more…)

Dell has topped Newsweek’s Greenest Companies in America ranking for 2010.

The company was specifically recognized for its efforts to

• incorporate sustainability into its supply chain and operations,

• make ‘being green’ easy and cost-effective for customers, and

• increase the energy efficiency of its products.

For example, Dell’s recycling programs have diverted more than 484 million pounds of equipment from landfills since 2006, and its bamboo packaging provides customers a strong, rapidly renewable packaging alternative that can be composted for easy disposal.

“Dell’s focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability helps us to be a more responsible partner to our customers,” Michael Dell, chairman and CEO, said. “The efficiencies we can all achieve through the use of greener products, solutions, services and programs should be an integral part of every corporate culture. This ranking is the result of a long-standing commitment that remains at the heart of Dell and the work we do in service of our customers.”

The Newsweek Green Rankings grade America’s 500 largest publicly-traded companies, as measured by revenue, market capitalization and number of employees, on their environmental performance, policies and reputation as environmentally responsible companies. Newsweek partnered with three independent organizations to assemble a ‘green score’ for each company. That score is based on three components: (more…)

The bamboo cushions that Dell uses to package some of its Netbooks and laptops recently received American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-6400 certification. This certification confirms the packaging, made from mechanically pulped bamboo from a Forest Stewardship Council-certified bamboo forest in China, will compost and biodegrade at a rate comparable to known compostable materials when added to a hot, active compost pile.

In addition, the certification assures that the compost resulting from the packaging’s degradation process is of good quality and can sustain plant growth.

Dell first introduced the bamboo packaging in November 2009. The company says it chose bamboo for this green packaging initiative because: (more…)

Yesterday, Dell announced that it has reduced its net  GHG emissions by more than 18% in FY09, compare to FY08.

This reduction includes:

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