No more plastic wrap, please

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3550

No more plastic wrap, please

3550 points posted to Environment by falbert May 22

In the last shipment of computers I received I was shocked by the amount of plastic wrap used for items like power cords, USB cables, VGA/DVI cables. Do these items really need to be individually wrapped in a plastic bag. I can just imagine the tons of plastic used by Dell annually...

Something to think about

jesse_l May 23	Yes, I agree as well that everyone uses too much plastic these days not only in computer packing, but everything else. What Ideas do you suggest that we all switch too in the industries?
paperpilot May 23	DELL can always use biodegradable paper bags for those items that can't be hurt by ESD.
phubert May 23	Of course, another issue is how packing is done, in general. Note that THIS suggestion says "Do these items really need to be INDIVIDUALLY wrapped " ..so, it's not just a question of using plastic but also of HOW it is used.
phubert May 23	A point I brought up elsewhere was: how about providing just the right LENGTH cables for the customer's USE... power, network, KVM?? After all, uniform, long cables use more oil as well... AND, uniform length cables tend to create 'cable tangle' I also suggested rack-mount cabinets could be built with the power connections (and network connections?) Better DESIGN could result in MATERIALS economies, which would reduce resource consumption Note, also, that the best recycling is REUSE... where are Dell and other companies when it comes to that???
paperpilot May 23	@phubert how is DELL to know what is the "right LENGTH cables" for you? If you live in a lab, you have a supply of bulk cable and connectors and you make your own. In such cases, DELL could ship your computers WITHOUT cables. I prefer power cables with right angle wall plugs, but I have to buy them separately and throw the DELL supplied cable into my spares box.
jdelidc May 23	wouldn't a twistie tie be good enough?
joyscant1980 May 23	Is it Dell's doing or the suppliers?
jdelidc May 23	my money is on the suppliers. but dell can still gripe to them
phubert May 23	O.K. think a 42U rack-mount cabinet, populated with 1U, 2U and 4U servers. Where would you put the (dual-source) power outlets to enable shorter cable lengths??? How would you preinstall network connections? THAT is how Dell would know what cable lengths to provide.
kenjennings May 23	The paper bag idea sounds good to me.
sgogeta4 May 23	I suggest a small to medium sized, thin, biodegradable box that holds all of the cables, which are tied with an elastic or twist tie.
phubert May 27	rubber bands instead of twist-ties?? (more convenient)
suhasrao May 28	Plastic Waste is Turning the North Pacific Ocean Into a Garbage Dump 3/25/2008 - (NaturalNews) A swirling, floating garbage dump in the North Pacific Ocean twice the size of the United States has been noticed in recent years and is growing at a swift pace. It is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The number of plastic pieces... Coca-cola to build plastics recycling plant in effort to appear more green 10/10/2007 - (NaturalNews) The Coca-Cola Company has announced plans for a $60-million initiative to give itself a "greener" image, including the construction of a $44-million plastic-bottle recycling plant. The 30-acre plant, to be built in Spartanburg, S.C.,... Bisphenol A chemical commonly found in canned soup and food storage plastics 8/9/2007 - Before you decide to chew on the cap of your water bottle because you're nervous, make sure the plastic you are chewing on isn't full of carcinogens and chemicals -- even though lobbyists for the plastics industry argue that any traces of the toxic substance... Plastic circuitry breakthrough may revolutionize electronics industry 1/15/2007 - (NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory have a chance to revolutionize the electronics industry if they can develop plastic semiconductors.
paperpilot May 28	@SuhasRao make suggestions; don't post useless news items. We all know the problem. We need solutions.
steve.au May 28	I like the sound of an enviro friendly paper bag option, unless there is a bio-degradeable tie out there? string?
robie1982 May 30	I have been really impressed by Dells packaging in general. But they definately overuse plastic bags. Plugs in plastic bags, vga cables that are like 90% in the bag. I sighed to myself as i unwrapped a dell computer for work the other day, and t hen put the plastic bag into the plastic recycling bin. Thank goodness i work for a company who recycles plastic or it would have gone straight to landfill. An average of 3 bags per box multiplied by the 60 pc's we plan to buy. Multiplied by the millions of pc's dell sell...... On a similer note, has anyone else noticed the clear sticky plastic dell use to over the glossy logo's on their moniters.?? Is that really nessercary ? I doubt it would have got tarnished during its life cycle pre-sales. Just found this site today. What a brilliant idea. I wish all big companys had something official like this. I appreciate the astetic value and i would not advocate 'loose' cables for the sack of a few 'twisties' but less bags please dell !
berksmobil May 31	Shame on me, but am I the only one, who kinda likes to unwrap and unpack all those tiny bags? Although paper bags would be fine. Could it be for psychological reasons? It makes me feel as if the product is packed with love (strange opinion - i know). It gives me a feeling of unpacking a really good device. All the things in the bags belong somehow to the main product but in my eyes they let it appear more valuable if unpacked one by one. It prolongs the time u are attended to the product, although i don't know what was first, chicken or egg - could be that Dell is aware about that fact or could be that I like Dell packaging and products for that reason (amongst lots of others).
breakable Jun 3	There seems to be quite a list of paper packaging solutions: http://www.easypack.net/products.htm
lispy Jun 3	The trick is to make stylish, yet eco-friendly packaging. Use some nice recycled paperboxes for the cables instead of plastics. Killer would be if they are oh so neat that people use them even after unpacking to keep their jewlery in it. Maybe use some colorful string to hold stuff together like it was done in the good-old days. If you need inspiration go to an artist supply store for example, or check out valuable present stores. They sell a lot of nicely packaged things which look so much more valuable. Example: Use a neatly-printed piece of cotton instead of styropor to keep between keyboard and display. Not only do they last much longer and can be washed when dirty, people might actually start using them and keep their displays shiny for so much longer wich resutls in an overall better user experience.
paperpilot Jun 3	All these boxes and cloths would need to sport the DELL logo. Must advertise to survive.
egyan Jun 3	Maybe the components are put in plastic bags to avoid shipment damage because they arrive bulk to Dell's assembly lines. This is probably the doing of the component manufacturer to cut costs. I'd like to think that they are all just jammed in a bin together waiting to be picked out. Plastic is the easiest way to avoid damage...imagine if paper was used to wrap things. Paper is prone to ripping while plastic is more resilient... This is all just food for thought I'm not trying to advocate the usage of plastic, but instead present how it might be.
paperpilot Jun 4	It all depends on the kind of paper they use to make the bags. Paper bags CAN be more resilient than plastic , although for this application, I don't think strength is an issue.
badblood Jun 5	you don't need to wrap cables at all, but still we need some way of knowing they are new cables if they are not wrapped. I suggest a yellow plastic tie cable thing.
inkslug Jun 6	Less plastic but not no plastic, by all means lump several items together in one plastic sealed wrap but still seal the smaller bits because I always fel more confident that these items are new and not returned/refurbished. All plastic should be biodegradeable like many supermarkets are introducing with their shopping bags. All manufactures should take a look at how sonos packages it's stereo products, Very small boxes considering what's inside, not a millimetre of space wasted.
junior Jun 6	you should see what apple does to their products, I recently purchased an iMac, and the whole everything was wrapped in plastic, the computer, the cables, everything. I had purchased an Inspiron 530 desktop last year, and it came with less plastic wrapping, and less styrofoam. the iMac had alot of styrofoam and plastic covers, so Dell is not the one to worry about, Apple has to stop doing what they are doing..
junior Jun 6	but i agree...lol
eddiegi686 Jun 8	hmm don't know what you mean my macbook didn't have any of this rubbish :)
eddiegi686 Jun 8	well that was too origional topic... im pretty sure apple don't include much in the way of plastic - packaging was very well designed, my 2008 Macbook was much much better than my 2004 Acer aspire in this way.
falbert Jun 10	In my last order, Notebook, dock, screen... I have a plastic bag for 1- power brick for notebook 2-power cable for notebook 3- power brick for dock 4-power cable for dock 5-power cable for monitor 6-VGA cable 7-DVI cable 8-USB cable 9-Mouse 10-keyboard (bag plus foam) 11-Dock 12-Speaker 13-speaker power cable 14,15,16,17,18, 19, 20 - manuals WOW...
paperpilot Jun 11	@falbert did each manual have its own bag?
thebittersea Jun 11	they should wrap them in old Dell catalogs or old news paper. that would be totally 'green'.
badblood Jun 12	fur is renewable.......
phubert Jun 12	...but you aren't volunteering your cat, are you bb???
amcintyre Jun 12	This has been a major complaint of mine. My coworker and I are in the process of setting up approximately 200 new computers. We are so tired of removing the plastic (which is especially complicated on the VGA cable because they are sealed on each end) and then removing twist ties. We are now finding that the mouse is being double bagged and the inner bag which used to be a thin grade of plastic is now a thicker grade and more difficult to remove.
roguent Jun 12	I work with computers for a living, too. It isn't just Dell. Apple, HP, all of them are plastic crazy. I would welcome a 0 plastic bag policy with just twist ties or rubber bands and loose manuals. Better yet...NO manuals. Stamp the web address of the digital manual on the box. We are setting up a computer in a business environment. That means we can get access to the online manual. www.jackpicks.com
badblood Jun 13	leather is renewable too. That's be stylish. little leather bags....... phu my cat is sacred! But I do plan to make mittens from him once he leaves this world.
paperpilot Jun 13	Wow Bad, sacred mittens. How droll.
punpun Jun 14	DELL has done some ecological steps. Another one should be this idea! I think it's very important to limit the use of plastic, as not all people are environmentally sensitive, so they throw it away.
hangnailed Jun 15	This makes non sense as Dell tries to promote them self's as a "green" hardware and solutions provider. BTW, IMHO, Yu are better off purchasing a pair of Behringer MS 40 active Studio Monitors found at samedaymusic.com. http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--BEHMS40
kgagnon Jun 15	Agree. Plus, maybe Dell should offer the choice of choosing or not to have manuals when ordering (or online manual like 'roguent' said in his post). I order a ton of product every year and I always recycle them without reading a page. Probably many others are doing this or throw them in the trash!
phubert Jun 16	Yes, too many unnecessary manuals.
haunterv Jun 18	As I work in the electronics recycling industry I feel a no/less plastic option falls in line with the more 'green' approach everyone wants to work towards.
bhock Jun 19	esp with the price of oil - can't be helping the bottom line - wonder what all those baggies cost nowadays One would think that when assembling a package (computer), it would be just as feasible (machine or not) to grab a twistied cable as it would a bag.
paperpilot Jun 19	You probably burn more oil making a paper bag than goes into a small baggie. According to my ULINE catalog, for 1,000 pieces, a 4 5/16 x 2 7/16 x 7 7/8 paper bag (the smallest) costs the same as a 3 x 5 baggie.
gorgias Jun 21	I completely agree with this, especially in a business environment. First of all, all that plastic is entirely unnecessary. I can understand it for monitors and such so they don't get scuffed during shipping, but power cables? Come on. I've received and setup hundreds of computers in my time and whether at home or work all those bags are immediately discarded, either because the computer's being setup immediately or because the cables are getting thrown into a bin in a storage room until the computer's been imaged and is ready to deploy. Bags are just a hassle for everyone involved and just add to the waste and environmental impact. That said, Dell needs to really shrink down their packaging. There's absolutely zero justification for a laptop like a D430 to come in a box the size of a small house (slight exaggeration, but you get the point). It's a huge waste to use such an excessive amount of packaging, it's a pain in the you-know-what to try and rip all that open, and (at least for the consumer) it really detracts from the excitement of getting a brand new computer. Not to mention the fact that the packaging is hideous. Take a hint from Apple: keep packaging to a minimum, make it easy to get into and make it sexy. Apple product packaging really is a thing of beauty: not only is the packaging minimalist, it's an experience unto itself, especially with their laptops. In place of bland, brown cardboard there's high-quality printed cardboard with all kinds of eye-candy of what's waiting within. And there's absolutely no digging around in secondary or even tertiary boxes to try and find mice, cables, etc; everything's laid out in front of you, ready to go. Heck, you can even use the box as a carrying case for your laptop if you so desire (not that I'd recommend it, but it's not all that crazy). So really, cut down on all the plastic wrap, cardboard and stryofoam, eh? IT departments will love you for not having to rip open and toss veritable mountains of packaging (seriously, there've been days I've tossed enough stuff to fill a full sized dumpster), and you'll get consumers all the more excited about, and up and running that much faster on, their brand new computer. And best of all, you save a good chunk of change on packaging and shipping ;-) It's a win-win-win.
paperpilot Jun 23	@gorgias I agree with all that you said except for the size of the laptop box. Bigger boxes are harder to steal. If notebook computers were shipped in boxs no larger than they need, they would be ripped off faster than an unattended bag at an airport.
eaglewonj Jun 23	I have been amazed by how much packaging some items come with. I have bought docks, laptops, desktops, mice, keyboards, webcams, cables, hard drives, and the like. I am amazed at how much packaging goes in the trash and how little I am actually holding at the end. The use of bags to cover cables is pretty stupid.
gorgias Jun 23	@paperpilot It's paranoia to suggest that a smaller box is going to result in a massive increase in stolen packages. First of all, I've never heard of the shrinkage rate for something skyrocketing because a company decided to use smaller, more utilitarian packaging. If that were really the case, you'd hear al kinds of stuff about people's iPods, Macbooks, Xbox 360s, Wii's, etc. going missing because Apple/MS/Nintendo shrunk the packaging from one generation to the next. Secondly, this is the 21st century: your package is tracked practically by the inch from the time it leaves the assembly line until it reaches your doorstep. There isn't really any way for a package to go missing Dell and co. to know exactly where it disappeared. And since it can't be released without your signature, it's not going to go missing after it gets delivered either. So come on, do you really think FedEx, UPS and DHL would stand for even the smallest bit of package theft, considering not only the fact that they'd be on the hook for the full amount of the computer but also that it puts at risk all the business a volume shipper like Dell does? Anyway.... I digress. Need sleep. Cheers. And thanks for agreeing with the rest of what I said :)
phubert Jun 24	Paranoia? I think it MAY depend on where you LIVE, gorgias! Our mailman doesn't like leaving anything at the door... for good reason, I think. Some rural areas are very much like that as well...
gorgias Jun 24	@phubert Again, Dell doesn't allow UPS, FedEx and DHL to leave your brand new computer at the door; you're required be home to sign for your new computer. From Dell's support page: Link to Page Signature Requirements for Delivery Most of our shipments contain valuable items, so our carriers are required to obtain a signature upon delivery for orders valued at $300.00 or more or shipments of ink and toner valued at $150.00 or more. For residential deliveries, the driver may attempt to deliver to your neighbor or building manager. If you will not be available to sign for your shipment, we offer the following options: Option 1: Sign the carrier’s delivery notice after the first delivery attempt If you are not available when the carrier makes the first delivery attempt, the driver will leave a delivery notice at your door. You can sign a release authorization and select your preferred delivery location front or back door, immediate neighbor, building manager, etc. on this form. The carrier will generally make three delivery attempts before your package is returned to Dell. Option 2: After the first delivery attempt, pick up your package at the carrier’s local office A second option on the delivery notice is to request the carrier hold the package at the local terminal for you to pick up. Just call the number on the form, and let them know you would like your shipment held for pickup. Carrier terminals are generally open during business hours (8:00 am – 5:00 pm). To pick up your shipment you will need two forms of identification: * A government-issued ID (drivers license, passport, residency card) that matches the name on the package * A second ID with your name on it (credit card, social security card, etc.) Even if that weren't the case, you can always call the shipper and instruct them not to release the package if someone isn't home or to just hold it for you at their shipping depot. Heck, if it makes you feel better you can call up FedEx/UPS/DHL regardless, just to double-down and really make sure that your new computer isn't going to be left on your doorstep unattended.
voice99 Jun 24	I did vote for this ... always good to re-investigate excessive packaging opportunities. Consider perhaps manufacturing and distribution efficiencies (same cable used for many products) might be more easily achieved in individual packages. Looking at end to end costs and impacts, one might find it more environmentally friendly to package this way. Of course Dell could build bundles (I mean all desktops must have a similiar set of cables for example) which in their volumes might not have a notable increase in cost... but those bundles might require larger bags negating the plastic savings. Perhaps paper might appear more friendly than plastic (good marketting for Dell). That would require trees/bamboo/etc or quality recycled sources. It astounds me that people want biodegradeable paper; this is good for areas without recycling facilities (where?) but it seems more like an excuse for people who can't seem to toss their coke can into the recycling bin sitting beside the garbage can. Trees are renewable - but isn't it more efficient to recycle? What I wonder is how many rounds of recycling paper versus plastic can handle?
infinitelink Jun 24	I for one enjoy the assurance that my packages, however the post company has behaved, will not be ruined by water. Hurray for plastic!
jimhoof Jun 25	I am part of a installation team and i install hundreds of PCs. And the amount of plastic i throw away is mental. On monitors for example there is plastic round the VGA cable which takes time to get off. It dosent sound like much when your installing hundreds of pcs at a time it all adds up especially as the way the monitors are pacaged i cant see any way the VGA cable will get damaged
meand3ts Jun 30	jesse_l what can be done is to label the cords. To cut down on Paper I take a Sharpie and label all my cords. I write what the cord goes to (TV, DVD, etc) then label the item it goes with. Just like you have the back of the computers color coded you can also color code the cords on one end or it can be stamped on the cords. It may cost in the beginning but in the long run it will save money for Dell. You will not need to send out manuals as much, you won't need people to answer question on where do this cord go, and it will help the enivorment. To make it easier for the person who don't know how to set up a computer you can put on the cord this end in the computer - this end into the fax etc. This can be done for almost all companies.
jdelidc Jun 30	packard bell used to do that back in the day. and i think gateway did too but i'm not sure. wonder what ever happened to that?? the keyboard was always purple (which could just stay black now since everything is usb) speakers are green, monitor was white, printer was yellow, mocrophone was pink
g3teg97 Jul 1	I just received an XPS M1530 and I thought about this idea when I took the plastic wrapping off the ac adapter (brick) and another plastic wrapping on the power cable going into the wall outlet. I don't really think it's neccessary to have to bags for that. Maybe they should look into something with foam padding?
jdelidc Jul 1	foam is even worse. at least with plastic it can be torched (and in a few places, used as feul for power generation)
paperpilot Jul 2	Plastic wrap squashes nicely in landfills. Not so with foam. It's worse than paper in landfills.
joyscant1980 Jul 2	Maybe they should use a nice carrying bag similar to the one that the headphones are in. Edit: I meant for the notebooks.
paperpilot Jul 2	I would like that for notebooks, Joy. DELL could ship them already packed.
rotthund Jul 2	Plastic bagging is useful for protecting stuff. I've put my stuff in zipblock back to protect it. If Dell packed in resealable bags instead of disposable plastic bags that only get ripped up, the bad would still be useful after the product is shipped. This is especially useful for mobile gear. I don't use the canvas bags at the grocery store. I use the plastic bags as trashcan liners.
g3teg97 Jul 2	jdelidc: Mmm...didn't know that. joyscant1980: Good idea, if you buy a bag.
joyscant1980 Jul 2	Maybe they could make it an option for the other laptop lines and make it standard for the XPS line, which is supposed to be their premium line. The laptop itself comes in a carrying bag, why not the adapter/power cord?
timest 2 days ago	Merged Idea originally posted 2 days ago plastic don't wrap my product in plastic
helmecj01 2 days ago	Merged Comment originally posted 2 days ago It be posted before http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/10088991/No_more_plastic_wrap_please
timest 2 days ago	Merged Comment originally posted 2 days ago I know but its impôssible to delete a post! Or maybe you can tell me how to do that???????
james-94 2 days ago	Merged Comment originally posted 2 days ago Click the "Contact Moderator" button at the top of the page and ask them to delete your post

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