Dive Brief:
- The Green Electronics Council awarded computer company Dell Inc. with its inaugural Catalyst Award for the company's commitment to using 100% post-consumer recycled plastic in some new products, including the OptiPlex 3030 All-in-One, introduced in 2014. The award was presented during last week's Emerging Green Conference in Portland, OR.
- The computer giant used more than 10 million pounds of post-consumer recycled plastic from January 2014 to August 2015. Overall, it has used 4.2 million pounds of closed-loop recycled-content plastic across 34 products globally.
- Green Electronics Council Chairman of the Board Kent Snyder said, "Dell has long been an environmental leader, and their progress to advance the circular economy in electronics is impressive."
Dive Insight:
Dell was given the award for its efforts to advance a circular economy, however this is not the first time the company is being recognized as a leader in environmental efforts. 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 overall electronic waste market is growing — a Research and Markets report expects the market size to reach $5.04 billion by 2020. New York City alone expects to recycle 1.5 million pounds this year, and other cities, such as Memphis, are opening new e-waste recycling facilities.
In the recycling process, materials such as copper, aluminum, gold, silver, plastic, glass, and others can be extracted. These recycled products/materials are used in the manufacturing of electronic and non-electronic products.
Other computer companies are also making a push to promote e-waste recycling. 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.
