We work with suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of packaging while minimizing shipping damage to products. A packaging methodology within our Product Requirement Documents targets minimizing material and energy use, as well as increasing recyclability and use of recycled content.
In FY10, we reduced the environmental impact of our packaging through innovation focused on redesign and efficient use of packaging, and ease of recycling of packaging material.
Over 99 percent of all our packaging material (by weight) is recyclable in areas with robust recycling. We achieved this by ensuring that 95 percent of our packaging parts were either made of one material or were designed to be easily separated for recycling in FY10.
We also use recycled materials where possible. For example, we used corrugated cardboard, which contains approximately 50 percent recycled content, and we expanded the use of 100 percent recycled plastic packaging cushions to three new product families. This has helped Cisco eliminate 300,000 pounds of materials annually.
By redesigning the packaging for sub-assemblies that move from one manufacturing site to another, we have eliminated 750,000 pounds of packaging material annually.
To improve packaging efficiency, we have removed and repositioned materials within cartons, optimized spare part packaging, and installed pluggable modules prior to shipment to eliminate 500,000 pounds of packaging material annually.
In FY09, we piloted a "green accessory kit" for the Cisco 2800 Series Router that gives customers an option to receive only the essential components and product documentation they need, without extras such as rubber feet and readily available items such as Ethernet cables they may already have. Following feedback from customers on this pilot, we have introduced similar options for several of our product families.
Collectively in FY10, we removed 1160 metric tonnes of materials from our value chain including documentation, raw materials, and packaging. We also streamlined processes to further reduce environmental impacts, while saving Cisco approximately $28 million in FY10.
See more on our Approach to Product Packaging.