Dell Expands Global Green-Packaging Strategy to Drive Cost and Environmental Savings

Dell is implementing a plan to simplify and revolutionize computer packaging that will result in estimated savings of more than $8 million and the elimination of approximately 20 million pounds2 of packaging material over the next four years. Today’s announcement is the latest milestone in Dell’s commitment to become the greenest technology company on the planet.

• Challenges Industry to Join Dell in Setting Measurable Targets
• Company Plans to Eliminate 20 Million Pounds of Desktop and Laptop Packaging
• Four-Year Savings Estimated at $8.1 Million
• New Online Greenprint Advisor Resource Designed to Help Customers Go Green

The company plans to reduce desktop and laptop packaging materials by approximately 10 percent worldwide, increase sustainable content in cushioning and corrugate packaging by 40 percent and ensure that 75 percent of packaging components are curbside recyclable by 2012.

With today’s announcement, Dell is the only major computer manufacturer with a global packaging reduction target for desktops and laptops. In 2007, the company exceeded its goal to reduce outbound packaging by 10 million pounds by nearly 10 percent. The company’s desktop and laptop packaging goal announced today will help preserve more than 150,000 trees.
Dell is integrating air-filled cushion technology and renewable materials including molded pulp cushions and 100 percent recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) thermal-formed cushions. Milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles are typical materials that comprise the HDPE recycled waste stream. Over the next year, Dell estimates that it will integrate nearly two million recycled milk jugs into cushions protecting its Studio Hybrid system. An estimated 33 million recycled milk jugs will be integrated into desktop and laptop packaging in 2009.

Through its server-packaging option MultiPack, the company is helping customers save time and simplify server installations by eliminating up to half of the packaging materials and waste that results during typical installations.

Dell today also announced the Dell Greenprint Advisor, a free web-based resource center enabling organizations to assess their green initiatives and help prioritize future actions.

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“We’re challenging every technology company to join us in implementing a global green packaging strategy,” said Tod Arbogast, director of Sustainable Business at Dell. “In doing so, we will drive extraordinary environmental and cost savings for our businesses and customers while setting a new efficiency model for other industries to follow.”

"Excessive packaging is among the most solvable challenges today. Changing the packaging paradigm presents an opportunity to increase business and brand value through sustainable innovation, resulting in positive environmental benefits," said Adam Werbach, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi S, a global sustainability consulting agency that has worked closely with Dell to develop its packaging strategy.

"We congratulate Dell for introducing an important initial framework, which will enhance the company's sustainable performance, while giving it a competitive edge among computer manufacturers. We look forward to the innovation and collaboration that will help Dell meet and exceed these goals, and hope to see similar strategies replicated across the industry."