Design for Environment (DfE)
Cisco is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products by including environmental considerations in the design phase of product development. Cisco's Design for Environment (DfE) program includes the following considerations:
Energy Efficiency
Cisco is continually searching for ways to improve product performance
while maintaining or reducing energy demands. Efforts to incorporate energy
efficient design criteria include innovations such as incorporating a thermo-management
circuit to the board design. The circuit operates the cooling sub-system more
efficiently by activating controls only as needed, reducing power demand.
Product Packaging
Protective packaging solutions are engineered principally for product
protection, in addition to being customer friendly, manufacturing conducive,
quality based and cost effective. Cisco is committed to value engineering
in packaging materials innovation to further reduce product cost and environmental
impact. Cisco product packaging can also be used for product returns and trade-ins,
is environmentally sound, and recyclable.
Design for Upgradeability / Recyclability
Cisco employs a modular approach to system design for upgradeability.
This allows for the easy upgrade of network interface and processor boards
and continued use of the existing system chassis and back-planes, which means
that chassis built and shipped 10 years ago are still in use today.
Design for recyclability considers Cisco's products at the material level, how they are assembled in the manufacturing process and how they are ultimately disposed of. Considerations include material diversity, ease of disassembly, and end of life / disposal concerns. An example of design for recyclability is the use of screws in place of fasteners in component assembly, which makes products easier to disassemble for reuse or recycling.
Upgradeability and recyclability features extend product life generating less waste over time and facilitate environmentally sound disposal.
Materials Innovation
Materials innovation identifies opportunities to incorporate materials
and components that will reduce the overall environmental impact of Cisco
products and packaging. Cisco is committed to eliminate banned substances
and reducing other materials of concern from our products. This practice improves
quality and reliability, increases product performance, and extends product
life, allows for recycling of Cisco products and packaging at the end-of-life.