Idea Storm

Reduce the amount of packaging

September 11, 2007

20 Votes

Status: Implemented

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Having recently been involved with rolling out a large number of Dell Optiplex systems.

I found it amazing how many boxes, plastic bags, cable ties & polystyrene had to be removed and disposed of. This ended up taking much more time than installing and configuring the systems.

I understand that Dell need to protect their products during shipping but there must be away of making the unpackaging process easier for corporate customers as well as reducing the environmental impact.

DELL/ Status Update:
We are recuding over 20 million pounds of packaging over the next 4 years. Read more here.

20 Votes | 11 Comments | Report Abuse

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Dec 17, 2008 Comment Link

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Posted By: paperpilot
I would prefer the air-filled plastic bags. After the unpacking, stab them and they deflate to nothing.

Dec 17, 2008 Comment Link

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Posted By: phubert
Well, since there already are the -melting- foam packaging 'peanuts', could they be created in appropriate FORMS like the styrofoam currently in use? How do they compare in impact tests?

Dec 17, 2008 Comment Link

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Posted By: paperpilot
It looks like DELL is finally doing it.

http://www.manufacturing.net/News-Dell-To-Save-8M-With-Reduced-Packaging.aspx?menuid=36

Sep 11, 2007 Comment Link

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Posted By: aikiwolfie
LOL I think you might get strange looks licking the frosting off your XPS. But for all i know you guys do that anyway. As an alternative to throw-away-packaging Dell could use boxes that would be durable enough to be used again. They could start a return-for-cash scheme. We have a similar thing here in the UK. With some soft drinks you can use the empty bottles in your local paper shop as though they were money. We used to get the value of 20p per bottle. Which meant I could buy all my teeth rotting sugary sweets even if I was skint! :oD We used to call them glass cheques LOL.

Sep 11, 2007 Comment Link

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Posted By: kwifler
That'd be funny to make a **Dell Flash Packing Game** Take the robotic arm, put in some padding, carefully drop 10 monitors in this box, drop 10 keyboards in this one, mice, disks, notebook computers... Put on a little stuffing to top it off. OOOhhh, magnetic levitation! oops, formatted all the hard drives. :-(

Sep 11, 2007 Comment Link

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Posted By: phubert
mmmmmmm! with CREAM filling!!!! :lol:

Sep 11, 2007 Comment Link

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Posted By: badblood
They could pack the computers in sponge cakes. Then we could eat it.

Sep 11, 2007 Comment Link

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Posted By: phubert
As noted elsewhere (a post of mine, I believe), Dell has -already- found ways to reduce packing on larger orders. I'm sure that continues to be an effort of theirs and it only makes sense: likely it will reduce their own costs in at least three ways: labor, materials, and shipping costs. Perhaps what is most needed are comments on specific packing/packaging alternatives, including enclosures (paper) or cables/etc. that you may or may not require. A more detailed order checklist might help for the savvy customer. Unfortunately, even large organizations sometimes entrust individuals with little understanding _of_ the equipment and its options/capabilities or of actual user/site needs, requirements or even possibilities ("what could we do IF..."). Now, if Dell had some sort of configuration assistance that could address that sort of problem...

Sep 11, 2007 Comment Link

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Posted By: jorge
This has been discussed before and the conclusion is if they have reduced packaging you'll end up sending things back due to scratches, chips, or other minor defects, therefor increasing the cost and amount of packaging used overall for your already massive order. A good solution for such a large order would be for the buying company to come pick up the equipment and pack it themselves using whatever shipping method they want, of course signing the equipment off as good before it leaves the building and before entering the company's shipping process.