While protecting their products is a primary concern, Dell is also taking steps to protect the environment by replacing all of their hard-to-recycle packaging materials with bamboo.

 

Technically a grass, bamboo has long been used for a variety of purposes including construction, cooking and even medicine. As one of the fastest growing plants in the world, bamboo can grow up to 39 inches or more in one day. Unlike a tree, bamboo has the potential to grow to full height and girth in just 3 to 4 months, and it's typically ready for harvest and suitable for construction within 3 to 5 years. Plus, bamboo naturally regenerates making it an easily renewable raw material source.  

Additionally, the company has made efforts to ensure their bamboo procurement is as environmentally friendly as possible. Dell providers practice selective harvesting, not clear-cutting. And the forest from which they purchase the bamboo in China is removed from the panda environment by about 1000 miles.

 

Dell estimates that the decision to switch to bamboo will save about 70,000 trees this year alone. Because of this switch, Dell's packaging is now also easier to recycle and less expensive to produce.

 

Aside from this change in materials, the packaging has also been redesigned to be more efficient. In the past, each computer was shipped in a separate box with its own packing materials. Now, up to four computers can go in one box, a change that has cut packaging materials in half.   

 

Ultimately, Dell believes these packaging improvements are not only environmentally sustainable, but economically sustainable as well. And customers can rest assured that their products will arrive safely, nestled in an easily recyclable box.