Dell Announces Expanded Global Green-Packaging Strategy

Dell has recently announced its plans to reduce desktop and laptop packaging materials used with its products by around 10 percent worldwide. Moreover, the computer maker said that it was set to increase sustainable content in cushioning and corrugated packaging by 40 percent, while 75 percent of the packaging components were stated to be curbside recyclable by 2012.

According to the company, the new green packaging goals should allow it to drop around 20 million lbs. of desktop and laptop packaging during the next four years, while also helping the PC maker save about $8.1 million in cost. Dell stated that the new packaging would allow it to preserve “more than 150,000” trees.

Dell announced that the initiative involved the integration of “air-filled cushion technology and renewable materials including molded pulp cushions and recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) thermal-formed cushions.” The HDPE recycled waste stream is most commonly used with materials from milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles. According to Dell, almost two million recycled milk jugs will be integrated into cushions meant to protect its Studio Hybrid system. The company also said that it expected around 33 million recycled milk jugs to be integrated into desktop and laptop packaging in 2009.

“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,” stated Adam Werbach, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi S, a global sustainability consulting agency that provided a helpful hand to Dell into developing its packaging strategy.

In addition to the green packaging, the computer maker also announced its Greenprint Advisor, which is a web-based resource center meant to offer organizations a way to assess their green initiatives and help prioritize future actions. U.S. businesses and organizations can benefit from the advisor by accessing this link. Dell stated that the advisor would be made available worldwide during the months to come.