Waste: Diversion
Strategies and Goals
Rethinking waste has helped companies make huge strides in reducing their environmental footprint and creating new efficiencies in the manufacturing processes. From using higher percentages of recycled material to make new products and reduce packaging to repurposing waste into new input, companies across the technology sector have been working hard to identify scalable solutions and shift their processes to more circular operations. Recycling and diversions have also become strong employee initiatives for most companies, given the associated cost savings and potential for behavior change.
Adobe
For example, by the end of 2016, over 98% of Adobe’s licensed products were delivered digitally, essentially eliminating its physical supply chain and drastically reducing the amount of waste produced by it. Adobe works with local partners to divert remaining waste from ever reaching landfill through composting, recycling and reuse whenever possible. Adobe employees actively engage in recycling, composting and re-use programs helping the company achieve a 9% global diversion rate. While paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum cans, printer toner cartridges, kitchen grease and batteries are recycled, food waste, landscaping waste, paper utensils and food containers are composted. IT equipment and office furniture that still has life in it – and anything that can be repaired or repurposed – is sent to partners such as Green Standards for a new life.
Dell, Intel & ASUS
Dell also reported good results in 2019, with its manufacturing facilities diverting 98% of their total nonhazardous waste from landfills and exceeding the company’s goal of 90% diversion. Chip maker Intel managed to recycle 90% of its global nonhazardous waste in 2018, reaching its goal two years early. In 2019, computer maker ASUS became the First Consumer IT Headquarters Worldwide to Receive UL’s Zero Waste Validation for diverting over 80% of its waste.
Best Buy
On the retail front, Best Buy continues to make progress against its goal to achieve an 85% diversion rate for all U.S. operations by the end of FY2020. Cardboard comprises 80% of the waste generated in its operations, and Best Buy is executing a three-year roadmap to replace or install new cardboard balers and compactors in most of its stores. In distribution centers, the company has deployed polystyrene densifiers to break apart and melt polystyrene into condensed cubes.
