In today’s world, electronic waste is becoming a massive problem. According to The Global E-waste Monitor 2024, in 2022, more than 62 million tons of e-waste was generated across the globe. That’s enough to fill 1.55 million 40-ton trucks! Unfortunately, only 22.3% of this waste was recycled properly, leaving over $62 billion dollars of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for and increasing pollution risks to communities worldwide. If we don’t change our ways, we’re on track to rise another 32%, to 82 million tons, by 2030.
By partnering with Dell Technologies, your business can turn retired equipment into valuable resources. Properly recycling old technology not only helps protect the environment by reducing harmful waste, but it also provides a direct financial benefit by recovering materials and reselling assets that can be used to fund future technology investments. Choosing to recycle responsibly is not just good for the planet—it’s good for your bottom line. Dell’s services make it easy for your organization to responsibly dispose of outdated technology while recovering maximum value from your retired assets. Instead of letting unused equipment gather dust or contribute to growing e-waste problems, we can help you take advantage of our secure, streamlined process to recover materials, resell valuable components and put that money back into your technology budget. It’s an efficient, environmentally responsible way to optimize your technology lifecycle while contributing to your sustainability goals.
By participating in International E-Waste Day today, we can all contribute to reducing pollution, conserving resources and saving energy. Let’s join the e-waste hunt and make a positive impact on our planet.
Dell Technologies’ Commitment to Sustainability
We’re passionate about creating technology that supports sustainable businesses, communities and the planet. Every design decision we make is geared towards reuse. For over 25 years we have provided responsible recycling solutions for our customers. We’re committed to reducing waste and emissions by recovering as much as we produce, reusing products and materials for as long as possible and investing in recycled, renewable and low-emission materials to decrease our reliance on new resources.
Our 2030 Circular Economy Goals Are Ambitious:
- For every metric ton of our product a customer buys, one metric ton will be reused or recycled.
- 100% of our packaging will be made from recycled or renewable materials or will utilize reused packaging.
- More than half of our product content will be made from recycled, renewable or reduced carbon emissions materials.
Dell’s Efficient and Sustainable Return Process
At Dell Technologies, every returned device embarks on a new journey. For any type of return or trade-in, Dell carefully evaluates the condition of each product. If it’s a minor issue, the device is refurbished, repaired, given a second life and is ready to be resold or redeployed. For those too old or damaged, Dell breaks them down, salvaging valuable parts and materials for reuse while recycling the rest in environmentally responsible ways. Every return feeds into a larger mission – prioritizing reuse and fostering a sustainable, circular economy where nothing goes to waste. Through this process, Dell turns potential waste into new opportunities, aligning operational efficiency with its commitment to sustainability.
See this process in action in the below graphic:
Making Sustainability Accessible
Dell Technologies Services and Solutions makes it easy for our commercial customers to participate in the circular economy and help them achieve their environmental goals:
- Dell’s Asset Recovery Services provide a seamless, end-to-end solution for retiring any brand of owned or leased client products, their accessories and servers. We handle every detail, from pick-up to final reporting, ensuring secure data handling by sanitizing devices in strict alignment with NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 standards. We prioritize reuse to maximize value return for our customers. If there is no resale value, we ensure all devices are responsibly recycled in full compliance with regulatory guidelines. Our online portal, TechDirect, provides control and insights to schedule services, track orders, manage payments and customize reports from anywhere – including an Environmental Impact Report that helps you track your efforts against your own sustainability goals.
- Dell APEX PC-as-a-Service offers flexible hardware and lifecycle solutions with predictable monthly payments. You can fully customize your subscription to cover deployment, management, security, support and end-of-term asset recovery. With Dell APEX PCaaS, you can also integrate Asset Recovery Services from the start, ensuring secure and responsible hardware return when the time comes. By adopting APEX PCaaS, your organization not only reduces costs and deployment times but also minimizes its environmental impact through participation in the circular economy.
- Technology Rotation for Servers and Storage offers a simple solution for organizations to engage in the circular economy, save costs and reduce environmental impact. By choosing Technology Rotation, businesses can lower carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and stay on top of their sustainability targets. A planned refresh strategy ensures access to the latest technology, reducing the total cost of ownership while maintaining business agility. With predictable payment plans, organizations can free up capital and maintain liquidity, all while benefiting from regular tech upgrades. This approach not only enhances business operations but also supports environmental goals by contributing to a more sustainable future.
- Our Tech Refresh and Recycle Program enables customers to seamlessly adapt to evolving business needs while responsibly recycling outdated equipment at no additional cost. This program allows customers to recycle legacy storage and servers in operational condition, giving them the opportunity to upgrade to next-generation Dell storage, data protection, server or HCI solutions. It provides a cost-effective and sustainable way to scale with the latest technology while minimizing environmental impact.
Pioneering Sustainable Materials in Technology
At Dell Technologies, we are pioneering circular innovation by integrating sustainable materials across our products, displays and PC accessories. Our commitment to reducing environmental impact is reflected in how we design and manufacture every device.
Latitude devices are a prime example of circular innovation, incorporating a range of innovative sustainable materials¹ such as post-consumer recycled plastic, bio-based plastic, reclaimed carbon fiber, recycled ocean-bound plastic, recycled copper, recycled aluminum and recycled cobalt. In fact, we offer the world’s first commercial PCs with recycled cobalt in the battery²—an industry milestone in sustainable design.
This focus on circularity also extends to our OptiPlex desktops and commercial monitors, which now feature an industry-leading 50% recycled steel in their chassis. By utilizing recycled materials, we are reducing the need for net new resources and minimizing the environmental footprint of production.
Our approach to sustainability is holistic, including PC accessories. The new wireless keyboard and mouse, designed with 64% recycled plastic by weight, represent the highest use of recycled materials ever in a Dell accessory—further demonstrating our leadership in more sustainable design.
To ensure that our products have a long lifespan, Dell offers spare part options and tutorials to empower users to repair and maintain their devices. Additionally, our free-to-download AR Assistant App uses augmented reality to provide easy, step-by-step instructions for PC repairs, helping extend the life of the product and contributing to a more circular economy.
Addressing the e-waste crisis requires collective action and innovative solutions. By embracing initiatives like International E-Waste Day and supporting sustainable practices, we can significantly reduce our environmental footprint. Gina Cano, Senior Director of Global Services Sustainability and ESG at Dell Technologies, encourages businesses to prioritize sustainability and take action. “Sustainability should be integrated as a business outcome, not treated as an outlier.” Together, we can retrieve, recycle and revive valuable resources, paving the way for a greener future.
1 Applies to the Latitude 5000 series. Based on internal analysis, March 2024. Post-consumer recycled plastic: 30% in LCD cover lid, 30% in LCD antenna window, 50% in LCD bezel, 50% in palm-rest, 50% in inner frame, 30% in bottom door, 35% in battery filler, 50% in battery housing, 30% in speaker enclosure, 95% in 65W adapter case and AC inlet; Reclaimed carbon fiber: 20% in LCD cover lid; 20% in bottom door; Bio-based plastic: 21% in LCD cover lid, 21% in bottom door, 42% in the feet at the bottom of the device; Ocean-bound plastic: 28% in fan housing; Recycled cobalt: 50% in entry (42Whr) battery. Recycled aluminum: 98% in 65W adapter thermal shielding
2 Applies to the Latitude 7350 Detachable and the Latitude 7350 that uses the 57Whr battery. Based on internal analysis, February 2024
