Synopsis
The case study analyzes Dell’s initiative to recycle ocean-bound plastics and use them in their manufacturing process. The vice president of global operations, Piyush Bhargava, is leading the program. The innovation to use plastics from the ocean and areas where these materials had a high risk of moving to the water was presented to the company in 2015. Since then, Dell has developed a supply chain and established its priorities for the future.
First, the firm analyzed the sources of plastic waste, distinguishing Indonesia and India as locations with significant waste problems. Then, the company established that plastics that had been in the ocean are not fit for mass recycling and that the chain of disposal can be intercepted before the materials come into contact with water. As a result, by 2017, Dell has implemented its Asia-based supply chain, improved the sourcing costs, and manufactured packaging with 25% recycled plastic. The company’s future concerns lie with the growth of the initiative, future use options, additionality, and the consortium for innovation.
Analysis and Recommendations
Many companies, including Dell, are looking into problems such as plastic pollution due to several reasons. First of all, the rise of environmentally conscious consumer base urges businesses to consider the crises related to production and waste. Second, the issue of pollution is directly related to the firm’s goods, since laptops and computers use many layers of packaging. Dell has also been interested in innovation and customer support from the beginning, which aligns with the intentions behind the ocean plastic initiative. Large companies can address other major problems to attract and retain customers and develop better practices.
For example, the question of poor labor conditions in countries where most materials are sources is one of the major issues today. Another concern is the air and water pollution that occurs from the sourcing, manufacturing, and transportation of goods.
The primary risk of incorporating recycled plastics is the quality of the finished product. Packaging made from unstable plastics can result in it breaking or damaging the product inside. Similarly, goods may malfunction if the materials are not of the best quality. The benefits of using ocean plastic include greater corporate social responsibility, consumer engagement, potential resource and cost savings, and environmental support. Dell defines additionality as a process of moving towards the management of waste that encompasses all aspects of production. Through an initiative that improves education, livelihood, and the environment, while also driving demand for recycled plastics and supporting a circular economy, the company is close to achieving its goal.
To ensure a successful continuation of the project, Bhargava should push other companies to engage in the consortium, thus generating demand for recycled plastics. The company can update its commitment to recycling and propose a policy that would urge other manufacturers to do the same. The change in policy and the development of an open-source platform are long-term goals that will allow Dell to improve access to plastics and their recycling.
An expansion into other territories where ocean-bound plastic waste is a problem is a potential strategy for Dell. The analysis of such states as Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia can give Dell more resources. A short-term plan lies in an active marketing campaign to spread the message about plastic waste in oceans. Dell prides itself on customization and client input – including the audience in the conversation seems beneficial. A channel for customer feedback, for example, can help Dell discover which products customers want to see used for this project.
The question of finances is complex, as the current cost of using recycled plastics in all products is not better than that of using new material. Nonetheless, the company’s environmentally-conscious approach is worth pursuing since Dell was already able to lower the prices for ocean plastics. Furthermore, continuing innovation can contribute to a further decline in prices and open up new ways of engaging with the environment. All in all, this project creates a positive image of Dell. It allows Dell to capitalize on being a leader in an area that appeals to a broad technology-using demographic.