Compostable bamboo used in Dell’s cushion packaging

Dell’s bamboo packaging has been certified “compostable,” making responsible disposal of the packaging easier and more sustainable for customers.

The packaging recently received American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-6400 certification. This certification confirms the packaging, made from mechanically pulped bamboo from a Forest Stewardship Council-certified bamboo forest in China, will compost and biodegrade at a rate comparable to known compostable materials when added to a hot, active compost pile. The certification also assures that the compost resulting from the packaging’s degradation process is of good quality and can sustain plant growth.

Streak, Dell’s five inch tablet, is packaged in cushions made from sustainable, compostable bamboo.

Dell began using bamboo cushions to package its Mini 10 and Mini 10v netbooks in November 2009. Dell recently extended its use of bamboo packaging to include a number of Dell Inspiron laptops, building on its commitment to make being green easy and cost-effective for customers.

Dell works with bamboo packaging supplier Unisource Global Solutions (UGS) to ensure all processes associated with the bamboo’s production meet the highest standards. The company sources its raw bamboo from a forest that follows Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principles and criteria. The bamboo forest is located in China’s Jiangxi Province – far away from pandas’ known habitats. Dell worked with UGS to secure FSC-certification for the bamboo’s full chain of custody, from the forest to the manufacturing facilities.

Dell, Georgia Pacific, UGS and Environmental Packaging International are also in the process of certifying the packaging for recycling.

By 2012, Dell aims to reduce packaging volume by 10 percent; increase the amount of recycled content in packaging by 40 percent; and increase the amount of materials in packaging that’s curbside recyclable to 75 percent.