Product Design Lifecycle

As we become more aware of the environmental effects of electronics, we are improving our processes through all phases of our product lifecycle: production, use, and ultimate disposal. The result is a reduced environmental footprint.

Production

Over the past few years, we've expanded our focus beyond manufacturing to include the environmental attributes of electronic products. Although our components represent a small portion of most electronic devices, our efforts help reduce the overall environmental impact of the final product.

Our Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) engineers help drive the design of products that are lead-free and use less energy, participate in building design, calculate environmental performance levels for tools and processes, and set environmental production performance goals for each new manufacturing process technology before those processes are put into place.

Use

We review chemical uses to ensure employee safety and environmental protection in our manufacturing facilities.

Phase 1: We research chemical regulations and use restrictions for our manufacturing facilities around the world. This research includes Intel-specific prohibitions (often above and beyond regulatory requirements), local site-specific regulations, and country-specific regulations.
Phase 2: We identify environment and safety controls needed to protect employees and the environment while the chemicals are in use. Materials that are safer and environmentally benign are used whenever possible to replace potentially hazardous or regulated materials.

Disposal/recycling

Plug-In to eCycling

We believe that electronic waste should be recycled and managed appropriately. Intel works with the EPA's Plug-In to eCycling campaign, which works to gather public and private support for proper recycling of used electronics. Plug-In to eCycling focuses on two major areas:

Providing the public with information about electronics recycling and increasing opportunities to recycle unwanted electronics.
Facilitating partnerships with communities, electronics manufacturers, and retailers to promote shared responsibility for recycling electronics.

Rethink

Intel joined with eBay and other industry partners to collaborate on the Rethink initiative. Rethink brings together industry, government, and environmental groups to help educate consumers about electronic waste concerns and to help consumers find responsible solutions for used electronics.

Students Recycling Used Technology (StRUT)

Most computer recycling programs have similar goals: provide technology to those who need it most and can afford it least while reducing the waste in landfills. Student computer-recycling programs, such as Students Recycling Used Technology (StRUT), go a step further. Computer equipment donated by businesses and private individuals and managed by the StRUT program provides more than 1,500 students each year the skills and confidence they need in order to compete in today's high-tech industry.

In collaboration with industry and education organizations, Intel founded StRUT in 1995. End-of-life items are sent for responsible recycling and usable items are distributed to the schools that are most in need where students gain valuable skills, sorting, repairing, and refurbishing the used electronic equipment. Year after year, this program has diverted tons of electronic equipment from area landfills. Intel works with both StRUT and similar programs to ensure they understand issues associated with obsolete electronics and have appropriate plans in place to properly handle and manage used electronics.

Learn more about StRUT and similar programs in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah: