Dell uses reclaimed automotive windshields in backpacks

Why write about sustainability on a tech website? With the increasing trend of global waste generation, it’s worth a moment to consider the environmental impact of all these devices in our markets. Instead of the environment being an after-thought, Dell Technologies has intentionally incorporated sustainable solutions as an overall business objective. For example, since 2008, they’ve been using recycled water bottles and CD cases in PC’s, displays, and servers. “The sustainability concept is integrated into our design strategy. It’s already embedded in our DNA so everything we’ve designed, we’ll think of the product from end-to-end,” explains Vivian Tai, Senior Manager (APJ Region), Global Product Compliance & Environmental Affairs.

Since 2015, Dell used over 2 million pounds of recycled carbon fibre collected as industrial waste from the aerospace industry in its Latitudes products. On Earth day this year, Dell launched a new line of eco-friendly backpacks and carrying cases with its water-resistant coating made from recovered plastics (polymers) that came from windshields of scrap vehicles. This is an encouraging step in partnering with other industries (in this case, the automotive sector) to increase Dell’s sustainability impact.

Dell has already taken on air quality issues since last year. It was reported in 2017 that the air quality in Delhi, India was like smoking 50 cigarettes per day. At Dell’s internal Innovation Olympics, Chakr Innovation pitched their technology which could capture the soot from diesel generators and turn it into a carbon black used to make ink. Dell now incorporates that ink for printing on its product packaging, starting with Dell boxes that ship out of India.

**Photo courtesy of Chakr Innovation

Dell has already achieved two of its 2020 Legacy of Good plan goals ahead of time: using 100 million pounds of recycled content or sustainable materials into new products, and recovered over 2 billion pounds of used electronics from global customers. Their overall long-term goal is to create a circular economy. Since last year, Dell has used closed-loop gold in the Latitude 5285 laptop from used electronics collected through its recycling program. According to David Lear, VP of Sustainability, when it comes to closed-loop gold “there’s 800 times more gold in a tonne of motherboards than there is in a tonne of gold ore mined from the ground.”

Having celebrated its 35^th birthday last month, Dell Technologies is planning to impact their future years with more innovative solutions in sustainability. This really is just the beginning of what’s possible for a circular economy.