Laptops to be packed in bamboo
Dell Computers have decided upon packaging made from bamboo as an alternative to the paper pulp, corrugated and expanded plastic packs they currently use to ship its laptops.
The bamboo, which will be sourced from China, is being used for the cushions that hold the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and 10v netbooks inside an outer box made which is made from 25% post-consumer material.
Bamboo packaging will hopefully roll-out the use of bamboo packaging in early 2010 and is also endeavouring to certify the packaging as recyclable.
Dell Senior Manager of Packaging, Oliver Campbell, agreed that it was a unique use for bamboo but added that its viability as a packaging material could not be ignored, saying "We're introducing it with mobile products, as it's proven a strong, sustainable and cost-effective solution, and we're actively working to use it for products across our portfolio".
The bamboo is sourced by Unisource Global Solutions from a forest that follows Forest Stewardship Council principles. It is located in Jiangxo province, and is far away from known panda habitats.
Dell say that bamboo is an ideal packaging material as it was strong, grew quickly and was environmentally friendly. Their packaging goals, which were announced last year, involve a 10% reduction in packaging volume and 40% increase in the amount of recycled content by 2012.
