Advancing Sustainability in the IT Industry

With climate change becoming an ever-growing threat to humanity, it seems every industry is putting sustainability at the forefront of its priorities, and the IT industry is no exception. You can see it in almost every facet of IT, from smart home products that optimize energy use to virtualization innovations that shrink the overall footprint of IT admin spaces. When you consider how more areas of our lives are being absorbed by the connected devices and the need to make everything stronger, faster, and more automated, sustainability initiatives can have a powerful impact when implemented in the IT industry.

What does sustainable IT look like?

Sustainability is about more than simply reducing the energy use of one specific project. True sustainability requires a holistic, birds-eye level view of material sourcing, supply chain, production and manufacturing, packaging and shipping, financial solvency, and labor standards in addition to the product itself. It means expanding the longevity of a product’s lifecycle, despite the trend of personal tech products becoming irrelevant with each new release

As part of the Progress Made Real 2030 initiative, Dell Technologies revealed its dedication to advancing sustainability through some of the economic and social tactics mentioned above. The objectives listed below reflect Dell Technologies’ goals as well as those of the broader IT community.

Accelerate the circular economy.

“By 2030, the global population will grow by a billion people and the ranks of the middle class will swell by nearly 2 billion. With more people and greater prosperity, our economy will put pressure on planetary boundaries and social systems like never before. But there is a choice.

We can change the system for the better by embracing a circular economy, based on designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, and finding ways to regenerate natural systems. We believe technology will play a key role in this shift and see the circular economy as a smart business model for our collective future.”

–Progress Made Real Social Impact Plan for 2030

We champion the many people who build our products.

“Sustainability is — ultimately — about taking actions today that ensure opportunities tomorrow, and that includes social issues as well. Our supply chain is vast and complex, involving tens of thousands of people around the world. With the power of that global force, Dell Technologies has the scale and responsibility to drive the highest standards.

We demand ethical practices, respect and dignity for everyone creating our products. Meeting our high standards is a condition of doing business with us, and we audit suppliers to ensure they uphold these standards.”

–Progress Made Real Social Impact Plan for 2030

 How the Latitude products are driving Dell’s sustainability initiatives

In 1994, Dell launched the Latitude line as its primary business-centric product series. Since then, several iterations of the initial line have yielded innovations that keep it among the top of its class and reinforce Dell’s dedication to sustainability. To commemorate Latitude’s 25^th anniversary, Dell has pushed standards even further by releasing a special edition that showcases Latitude’s sustainability journey with the “most sustainable Latitude ever.” This edition combines Dell’s sustainable practices while also expanding and adding new ones.

Key differentiators that set this release apart from the standard Latitude 7300:

·      First Latitude to meet EPEAT Silver standards

·      Ocean shipment (for the majority of units) from the factory reduces the carbon footprint of transporting inventory

·      89% VOC reduction (vs. 55%) by expanding waterborne paint to 100% of the chassis and keyboard

·      Anniversary packaging contains 91% recycled content and integrates ocean-bound plastics

·      Long Life Cycle Battery increases the battery’s useful life and extends potential replacement timeline

·      New Reclaimed Carbon Fiber Technology that increases recycled content to 18.8% (from 11.6% in Latitude 7300) while reducing weight (up to 24g) at no sacrifice to performance or rigorous durability standards

Since 2008, Dell has made sustainability a top business priority and the release of the 25^th anniversary Latitude furthers this commitment. With unexpected innovations and new sustainability accolades, this new Latitude launch is a symbol of Dell’s dedication to the longevity of our planet.