RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC and NEW YORK, September 15, 2008. Lenovo today announced it has joined international non-profit organization, The Climate Group, and as part of that membership unveiled a comprehensive program that rewards consumers for recycling end-of-life devices, and offers consumers incentives to power new computers with renewable energy. This new program encourages consumers to make more environmentally responsible choices throughout the lifecycle of the computing device – and complements what Lenovo is doing to “green” its own operations.
Lenovo set a voluntary target of improving its carbon efficiency[1] by 10 percent between 2007 and 2012. To help reach that goal, Lenovo is developing energy efficient solutions in its products, is implementing energy conservation measures at existing sites, and is building new manufacturing facilities using greener materials and technology.
The renewable energy component of Lenovo’s new program includes an e-coupon offered in partnership with Together, a recently launched initiative that offers simple solutions to help consumers save money, save energy and save the planet. Under the program, for every Lenovo notebook sold using the new Together e-coupon, Lenovo will make a donation in the amount of the cost of powering a Lenovo notebook for a year[2] to a renewable energy project in the buyer’s home state. These may include wind farms, solar generation and biomass facilities. Customers just type “together” into the blank coupon field on the online purchase form. More information is available at www.lenovo.com/together.
“Lenovo has been working hard to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions,” said William Amelio, Lenovo CEO. “These programs help extend the reach of our green initiatives beyond our own operations, and help to address the challenge of how technology products are made, how they are powered and how they are recycled when the products come to the end of their lifecycles.”
In addition to helping consumers power their Lenovo computers with green energy, Lenovo ships its products in energy-efficient ways and was recently certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a SmartWay shipper. The voluntary collaboration between the EPA, freight industry and business partners including Lenovo aims to avoid 33 to 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions per year by 2012. Lenovo is also changing its packaging, seeking to manufacture products closer to where they will be delivered, and looking for more energy-efficient ground and sea delivery options.
We’re really excited to welcome Lenovo as a member,” said Chris Walker, North America Director for The Climate Group. “Lenovo’s extensive reach into the consumer markets can deliver meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The ‘no strings attached’ recycling initiative should also serve as a positive example for other companies looking for ways to do more to tackle climate change.”
Rewards for recycling
To tackle the challenge of what happens to computers at the end of their lifecycle, Lenovo will work with leading recycling company ECO International to offer a new recycling service for consumers and small business customers in the US.
ECO International will take back Lenovo and select IBM products for recycling free of cost to the consumer – including shipping. Consumers who return certain devices that still have residual value may also qualify for payment via pre-paid VISA cards. And this offer applies to devices of any brand and does not require the purchase of a new Lenovo product. The ECO International program will include a wide range of electronic products, including cell phones, notebook and desktop PCs, monitors and music players.
Consumers simply log on to http://lenovo.ecotakeback.com to enter return information and print out pre-paid return labels. The site will even give an estimated reward value for the device.
“As a premier recycler with multiple facilities in the US, ECO International shares Lenovo’s dedication to preserving our world – all materials are processed under the e-waste management hierarchy; reuse, resale, parts harvesting, donations and materials commodities management, supporting a zero landfill policy,” said Brad Brown, vice president of marketing and sales, ECO International. “Working with Lenovo to provide this unique solution to reward people to recycle will transform the way we think about recycling going forward.”
Lenovo offers a wide range of notebooks, desktops and monitors rated Gold by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). These products are recognized for their environmental attributes including energy efficiency, using recycled materials and packaging and reduction of certain materials. Additionally, several Lenovo products have passed extensive testing for up to 2,000 chemical emissions to be Greenguard certified.
For more information on Lenovo’s sustainability initiatives, please go to www.lenovo.com/environment.
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.
About The Climate Group
The Climate Group is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with government and business leaders to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Its coalition of leaders in government, business and other nonprofit organizations has demonstrated that the emissions reductions needed to slow climate change can be achieved while boosting profitability and competitiveness. Companies, states, regions and cities around the world are realizing there are significant economic as well as environmental advantages of taking decisive action now. The Climate Group was founded in 2004 and now has offices in the UK, the US, China, India and Australia. For more information about The Climate Group, please visit http://www.theclimategroup.org
[1] Carbon efficiency is carbon emitted per dollar of revenue.[2] Donation amount of $10 per PC purchased