Dell Supplier Information Technology Systems

Dell is a supplier of information technology systems to customers all over the world. It uses information technology and the Internet to communicate with customers, take orders, provide order status updates, and provide general service and support. By doing so, and conducting the majority of its business online or by telephone, Dell not only streamlines processes and saves customers time and money, it substantially reduces the use of paper in many steps of the supply chain globally. Today, where the use of paper is necessary, Dell endeavors to manage cost, quality and environmental concerns in its selection of paper products for catalogs, product packaging, and office use. In this regard, Dell supports the environmental Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) community and responsible suppliers in their efforts to reduce the use of paper by business and increase the availability and use of commercially-viable and environmentally-friendly paper and alternatives

DELL MEASURING AND TRACKING
To ensure that Dell continues to make progress on its paper stewardship goals, Dell will:
 
• Establish base-line starting points and set time-bound goals and benchmarks for achieving measurable outcomes in all key areas, especially virgin fiber reduction, elimination of sourcing wood and fiber from endangered forests, increased use of recycled and alternative fiber, as well as, increased use of wood and fiber independently certified as sustainable, with a preference for wood and fiber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC);
• Report annually on its environmental progress and release this information publicly to increase transparency and the participation of all stakeholders;
• Encourage innovation in our paper supply chain to improve Dell’s environmental performance and that of other catalog producers.
Protecting Endangered Forests
• It is Dell’s intent not to source paper from companies that are known to log endangered forests.1 For example:

I. Landscape integrity. Dell will evaluate and, if necessary, avoid sourcing from intact forest landscapes, forest restoration areas, remnant forest landscapes, and forest landscapes that provide ecological connectivity.

II. Biodiversity. Dell will avoid sourcing from rare forest types, forests exhibiting significant levels of species richness, rare ecological and evolutionary areas, the core habitat of conservation species, and areas which are home to high concentrations of rare and endangered species.

III. Ecosystem services. Dell will evaluate and, if necessary, avoid sourcing from forest landscapes that provide key carbon storage and clean drinking water.

Dell Laptop

• Dell will actively research its own paper and wood supplies and will require its paper suppliers to identify endangered forests in the regions where they source paper and wood.
• Dell will work with a variety of stakeholders including the NGO community and Dell suppliers to identify and eliminate endangered forest fiber from their supply chains. Pursuant to this, Dell will:

1. Identify its fiber supply chain for all forest products including, but not limited to, paper for catalogs and other marketing materials, internal office paper, corrugated packaging, and wood used in retail products. Dell will use commercially viable, environmentally responsible suppliers.

2. Work with stakeholders to prioritize reduction of impacts on and encourage protection and sound management of endangered forests in key regions (see below). Dell will solicit information regarding on-the-ground practices from both its suppliers and the NGO community and will assist in researching potential improved sources of wood and paper.

3. Use reasonable efforts to first influence changes within and, if not successful, seek alternatives and/or phase out doing business with companies within 6 months where the supplier’s practices are proven to be inconsistent with Dell’s values and environmental goals, and which result in damage or destruction of endangered forests.

• Dell will seek partnerships with other catalogers and related paper buyers (e.g. printers, magazines) to maximize commercially viable alternatives to paper milled from endangered forests. Dell is committed to sharing best practices with other catalogers and will seek to positively influence its customers and suppliers through its leadership role.
• Dell recognizes the following priority regions for its paper conservation efforts:
• Canadian Boreal Forests
• Congo Basin Forests
• Inland Temperate Rainforests of British Columbia, and the native forests of
Indonesia and Chile
• Russian Boreal Forests
• Southeast Asian Rainforest
• U.S. National Forests
• Southern region of the U.S.