Latest from Dell: Bamboo computer (packaging that is)
December 3, 2009 by Tom GuayPosted in: Cost Cutting, Latest News & Views, News, recycling
Using bamboo-based packaging looks to be the next big green thing as a cost-effective way to ship your products.
It’s also a way to encourage your customers to recycle your packaging.
Leading this charge in the computer industry is Dell, which just announced it’ll use bamboo to package two computer products — the new Inspiron Mini 10 and Mini 10v netbooks. More computer products will be shipped in bamboo-based packaging in 2010.
Dell is also labeling its packaging to make it clear that the package should be recycled, not thrown away.
Bamboo as a packaging material is seen by many as a better choice than paper-based products, such as cardboard and paper-based foam. Bamboo is regarded as renewable because it:
- grows quickly, up to 24 inches a day and is ready for harvesting in three to seven years, much faster than hardwood trees
- is strong, with a tensile strength similar to steel, and
- is easy on the environment because it promotes healthy soil because when harvested, it doesn’t require replanting.
Dell also harvests its bamboo from growers who meet strict sustainability principles as outlined by the Forest Stewardship Council.
The switch to bamboo packaging is part of Dell’s overall sustainability plan to move away from paper-based packaging and to encourage recycling. The company plans to reduce its use of packaging by 10% in 2010. By 2012, Dell says it will increase the amount of recyclable material in all of its packaging by 75%.
The changes will not only improve Dell’s eco-credentials, but it’ll also save the company money, according to Dell’s senior manager of packaging, Oliver Campbell.
GreenandMore.com
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December 11th, 2009 at 11:31 am
How about using our own forest products!!! Paper and paper products manufactured in the United States utilize the part of the tree that 50 years ago was burned as waste. Today the US timber industry uses 100 % of the tree — trees that are already dead or trees that are choking our forests, putting old growth forests at risk for fire by adding ladder fuels and absorbing nutrients and sunlight needed for healthy trees. Our US lumber and paper mills not only sustainably harvest timber for US, by-products are extracted, such as resins, tars, fibers, that go on to other industries beyond building. Literally thousands of products from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, clothing, asphault, plastics of all shapes and sizes are provided to other manufacturing sectors. These are not only American products — we are talking good paying American manufacturing jobs.
December 19th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Dear Ms. Keller,
I’m consider myself a fair and balanced person. Your observations are plentiful and hard to dismiss. I’d like to know more about your sources for the information. I also would like to read direct refutation of the points which you did not address such as bamboo is recyclable, it is less expensive than paper and a direct question regarding where the Bamboo is coming from. If it’s not being harvested here or as close as the suppliers of the paper packaging it replaces, the fossil fuels consumed in the conversion process and transportation to our North American stores must be considered when touted as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option. So far, I’d have to write your arguments struck a telling blow against the case to switch to bamboo, but there are some significant questions remaining.