Dive Brief:

• Since 2007, Dell has collected 1.4 billion pounds of e-waste, the company reported in its second sustainability report.
• In 2013, Dell launched its 2020 Legacy of Good Plan, which is an effort involving 21 social and environmental goals that guide how the company will use its expertise and technology to benefit the globe and its people. The thrust of the program is to work toward measurable value for the firm’s customers, communities and the planet.
• The recent sustainability report notes that 21.9 million pounds of post-consumer plastics have been recycled by the company since 2013. By realizing material reductions and taking advantage of alternative materials, Dell has avoided using 31 million pounds of packaging since 2009. That has saved the company $53 million, Dell reported.

Dive Insight:

E-waste is tough and costly to recycle, though e-waste often contains rare earth magnets and precious metals that can be re-used in new electronics. Dell is not alone in its efforts to recycle e-waste. Hewlett-Packard began a take-back program for its products in 1987, and since then, it has recovered 3.71 billion pounds of computer hardware and associated products for re-use and recycling.