Dell’s pilot program delivers technology industry’s first packaging trays with 25% recycled ocean plastic content, will keep plastics from entering the ocean.
Dell recycled plastics collected from waterways and beaches for use in the new packaging tray for its Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, building on Dell’s broader sustainable supply chain strategy. In 2017, its ocean plastics pilot will keep 16,000 pounds of plastic from entering the ocean.
Dell will transition its award-winning XPS 13 2-in-1 to ocean plastics packaging beginning April 30, 2017.To help ensure the packaging does not end up back in the oceans, Dell will stamp each tray with the No. 2 recycling symbol, designating it as HDPE (which is commonly recyclable in many locations). Dell’s Packaging team designs and sources its product packaging to be more than 93 percent recyclable by weight so that it can be reused as part of the circular economy.
“I am so proud to see the goal of my partnership with Dell fully realized in this program. Not only are we keeping plastics from entering our ocean, but we are also educating consumers and leading by example through developing new and innovative business systems. The health of our ocean affects the health of our families and our communities; this is one example of our collective ability to protect it,” said Adrian Grenier, Social Good Advocate of Dell.
The ocean plastics supply chain process is made of multiple stages:
- Dell’s partners intercept ocean plastics at the source in waterways, shorelines and beaches before it reaches the ocean.
- It then processes and refines the used plastics, mixes the ocean plastic (25 percent) with other recycled HDPE plastics (the remaining 75 percent) from sources like bottles and food storage containers.
- Finally, it molds the resulting recycled plastic flake into new packaging trays and ship the trays for final packaging and customer delivery.
In partnership with Adrian Grenier and the Lonely Whale Foundation, Dell has helped to increase understanding of ocean health issues, using virtual reality technology to bring people closer to the issues facing the oceans.
