From product recovery to sustainability at Dell

Dell is at the forefront of its industry's recycling efforts and produces an annual sustainability report. Here, sustainable business manager. Tod Arbogast, describes some of the

What are your main responsibilities at Dell?

I lead a team that identifies and prioritizes future risks and opportunities for Dell. The sustainability team acts as coordinator within Dell, ensuring information is shared. Being one of the chief points of contact for various stakeholder organizations, NGOs, regulatory bodies and socially responsible investor groups - the sustainability team brings outside perspective, while also sharing progress externally.

What tops your agenda?

Increasing recovery rates of end-of-life products and energy efficiency, while also meeting commitments to environmental design outlined in our sustainability report and chemical use policy.

Dell works with industry colleagues to ensure ever-improving workplace conditions across the global supply chain, fully endorsing a global Electronics Industry Code of Conduct (EICC) for supplier labor rights, health, safety and environmental activity. The code outlines standards to ensure working conditions in the supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible.

What are the biggest challenges?

To continue educating customers on product recovery. Dell has low- to no-cost, convenient recovery programs in place in a number of geographies, continually informing customers about responsible reuse and recycling. Dell's work with EICC is critical in ensuring its supply chain workforce has the same high safety standards and opportunities as Dell employees - the team is operating across many countries and industries to this end.

What does CR mean at Dell?

CR takes in company risk, commitments to corporate citizenship and opportunities to leverage our business practices. The team provides quarterly business updates to the chairman and CEO on CR initiatives, including biannual reports to board directors ensuring buy-in at the highest levels. Dell's committed to helping to raise global CR standards and acting on its responsibility to the environment and the industry.

What initiatives is the company most proud of?

* Dell's work on product recovery is long-standing.

* Forest Products Stewardship Initiative - Dell surpassed targets on this; significantly its US small business catalog uses 90 percent waste paper.

* Energy efficiency and environmental impact design changes lower system power requirements, helping our customers save on energy expenses.

* Dell's commitment to the EICC.

What led you to CR at Dell?

I had the opportunity to lead Dell's US product recovery services at a time when Dell was undergoing a cultural transformation, from start-up to industry leader, which significantly influenced how Dell considered CR issues. Transitioning from a product recovery role to that of sustainability, I welcomed managing a number of new industry wide issues as an exciting challenge. Dell has a great opportunity to determine where it can best meet both company financial and global citizenship objectives.

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