Sustainability Takes the Stage at CES

When we think CES, we think showy, shiny, NEW.  But tomorrow, #ces2017 is spotlighting the less flashy, often hidden side of tech innovation: sustainable design.

Sustainable design is a conscious approach to creating products and packaging with the environment in mind. It’s also about what goes in, what we avoid, and how we extend the product’s workable life for use by a second, even third customer. And in the end, it’s about reuse, refurbishment and responsible recycling.

In a world that produces 92 billion pounds of electronic waste annually, the impact of sustainable design is significant. For example, at Dell, we’ve recycled more than 36 million pounds of post-consumer recycled plastics from water bottles, milk jugs, and used technology back into our products.  And we ship 93 percent of our laptops in sustainably sourced packaging in our quest toward zero waste.

Tomorrow, at “Sustainability Day at CES,” the green leaders take the stage.  We’ll discuss sustainability policies for the new administration and new research on the resource and waste implications of consumer electronics. The EPA will also honor the winners of their Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge, which recognizes electronics manufacturers, brands and retailers for excellence in electronics collection, recycling and design.  Dell is thrilled to be a Gold and Champion honoree for our global takeback program and our innovative use of recycled carbon fiber in select Latitude and Alienware laptops.

If you’re on-site at CES tomorrow, stop by the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center at 10am Pacific or catch the conversation online at www.CES.Tech/livestream.

And you can read more about the impact of design on the e-waste challenge from Dell’s experiential design leader, Ed Boyd, on TriplePundit here.

About the Author: Carly Tatum

Carly Tatum is the Senior Director of ESG Impact and Engagement at Dell Technologies. Her team is responsible for taking action on Dell’s ESG priorities, applying the company’s full capabilities for the greatest impact for society. As part of that she oversees Dell’s philanthropic efforts, leads Dell’s ESG signature programs, strategic partnerships, community engagement and employee engagement. Prior to this role, she spent three years leading Public Affairs and Corporate PR and six years leading Social Impact Communications and Corporate Influencer Relations for the company. She has led a purpose-driven career with highlights including launching the company’s corporate activism strategy, shaping the company’s ESG 2030 goals, and building advocacy and engagement campaigns like the Circular Gold jewelry collection and NextWave plastic consortium to both build Dell’s reputation as an ethical company and community leader and drive real action in support of the planet.