Dell to bring computer made with closed-loop recycled plastics

ROUND ROCK, USA: Dell has announced new sustainability initiatives designed to increase the ways that its IT solutions make lasting contributions to the planet. Dell is the first in the IT industry to introduce carbon-negative packaging, through a partnership with Newlight Technologies, inventor and manufacturer of AirCarbon.

Dell also is the first to use UL-Environment certified closed-loop recycled plastics in the manufacturing of computers, in partnership with Wistron GreenTech, a global original design manufacturer and one of Dell's official environmental partners. The independent, third-party verification of a closed-loop plastics process establishes the first industry standard for closed-loop and supports a circular economy for IT.

"We have a long-standing commitment to conduct our business responsibly," said Dell CEO Michael Dell. "Air Carbon packaging and closed-loop recycled plastics are terrific innovations and big steps forward as we work with our customers and partners toward our 2020 goals."

AirCarbon Packaging

While almost all plastics today are developed from fossil fuels, AirCarbon by Newlight Technologies is a plastic material made from air and greenhouse gases that would otherwise become part of the air. The AirCarbon-based packaging will launch this fall beginning with the packaging sleeves around new Dell Latitude series notebooks. Dell is piloting AirCarbon packaging in the United States, and plans to extend it globally for use in both packaging and products.

Previous Dell packaging innovation includes bamboo and wheat straw that helped eliminate 20 million pounds of packaging and saved 18 million dollars. The new AirCarbon packaging, greener and less expensive to manufacture than oil-based plastic packaging, brings Dell another step closer to achieving its goal of using 100 percent sustainable packaging by 2020.

Closed-Loop Recycling

Dell's new closed-loop supply chain developed in partnership with Wistron GreenTech will turn plastics from recycled electronics back into new systems, helping drive a circular economy for IT. Dell will be the first company in the IT industry to use UL-Environment certified closed-loop recycled plastic in a computer with the launch of the Dell OptiPlex 3030 All-in-One desktop, which will be commercially available in June.

By reusing plastics already in circulation, Dell is cutting down on e-waste, saving resources and reducing carbon emissions by 11 percent compared with virgin plastics. Dell already offers free consumer recycling in 78 countries.