DELL

In the year 1984, Dell Incorporated evolved into a nationally known computer chain from a starting capital of $1,000. Dell began in the founder's campus dorm room at the University of Texas, where Michael Dell sold computers to customers directly and defined a new age in the computer business.

In 1985, Dell produced its first personal computer. Michael Dell then rolled out an unprecedented marketing strategy -- custom-designed computers that could be shipped directly to customers. The computer business world recognized the practice and featured Dell in popular information technology magazines. Today, Dell has become a top choice among customers shopping for personal computers. As the company expanded, it widened its product range to include printers, notebooks, servers, desktops and more.

Key Persons:

• Michael Dell - Founder and Chief Executive Officer
• Don Carty - Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Finance Officer
• Michael Cannon - Global Operations President
• Ronald Garriqueas - Global Consumer Group President

Like its competitors, Dell recognizes the importance of environmental initiative where electronics are concerned. What started out in 2004 as a documentation of paper usage became a global recycling program. Dell became one of the world's first computer-producing companies to create recycling programs for the masses. The company aims to become the "greenest" company in the world.

Dell's recycling program encourages customers to return any Dell-branded product for free. They also accept any brand or model of computer, monitor, printer, or peripheral devices like keyboards and mice for proper recycling. As recycling is interconnected with global warming or climate change, Dell has made partnerships to lessen carbon dioxide emissions. The corporate entity has enlisted the help of the Conservation Fund and Carbonfund.org to take the fusion of business and eco-drives to new heights.

Dell also offers a donation option for old computers to benefit the less fortunate. Dell's slogan is that "no computer should go to waste."

The company's environmental programs do not stop at recycling; Dell has a Design for the Environment (DfE) Program that includes environmental criteria into each aspect of a product's life cycle, from supplier management, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, to end-of-life solutions. They strive to make their computers more energy efficient, and at the same time produce materials that are environmentally safe. Many of Dell's offered products, from desktops, workstations, laptops, and printers, meet the conditions for Energy Star qualification under the Environmental Protection Agency.

Dell Environment Resources

• View Dell's environmental policy at the Dell website.
• Read a review of Dell's environmental efforts to go green at the dell website.
• News article about Dell on the environmental bandwagon at CNN Money.