Elsewhere in the Products criteria, Dell scores poorly on several transparency issues, including failing to disclose its percentage of total post-consumer recycled plastics or a timeline to improve in that area. Dell also lacks transparency on warranty and spare parts information and the percentage of its products that meet and exceed the latest Energy Star standard.
On the Energy criteria, Dell scores top marks for both its disclosure of externally verified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its own operations and for committing to reduce global absolute emissions of GHGs from facilities by 40% by 2015, from a baseline year of 2007. The company still needs to set a goal to increase its use of renewable energy to 100% by 2020. The amount of renewable energy used decreased again from 21% in fiscal year 2011, to 19% in fiscal year 2012. Dell’s overall energy score could increase with specific examples of advocacy to promote clean energy policy.
Dell performs well on the Sustainable Operations criteria, including supply chain management. Dell receives maximum points for paper procurement policy. Dell also scores high for working with 1st tier suppliers on the issue of conflict minerals. Although Dell has a relatively comprehensive take-back programme, and provides good information to its customers on how to recycle discarded electronics, with the exception of its India customers it no longer provides data on recycling rates based on past sales. Dell must continue working with its suppliers to report and publish data on GHG emissions of all its products.
Dell's performance in detail: Download the company’s Scorecard here