How Supply Chains Shape the Future of Sustainable Laptops

As laptops become more common across work and daily life, manufacturers face pressure to manage their environmental costs.

Dell Technologies, one of the world’s largest tech companies, is working to make laptops more sustainable — not just in design and use, but throughout the entire supply chain.

Between raw material extraction, manufacturing and shipping, the average laptop emits between 691kg and 928kg of CO₂ over a six-year period, according to Oxford University.

Unlike desktops, which are typically used for longer, laptops tend to be replaced every four years, adding to the challenge of reducing emissions.

The bulk of these emissions occur before a customer even opens the box.

Just 15% of a laptop's emissions come from the electricity used while it’s running. The rest comes from global supply chains — the process of building, transporting and delivering devices around the world. This includes mining metals like lithium, producing high-energy components, packaging, and shipping across long distances.

Why sustainability in tech begins with supply chains

Environmental groups like the WWF warn that continued overconsumption of resources, particularly in sectors such as consumer electronics, places major strain on the planet.

The production of laptops requires a wide range of minerals, water and energy — all tied to complex international supply chains.

WWF Chief Economist Karen Ellis explains: “We are living in a time when human impacts on the environment are changing the face of our planet.

"I believe that finding ways to ensure that we as a global society live sustainably is the top priority if we are to ensure that nature, the species we love so much and we ourselves are able to live in harmony on this planet.”

The WWF identifies consumption at unsustainable levels as the largest cause of environmental degradation. This is driven by a supply model that still prioritises fast production, frequent upgrades and limited product repairability.

This is where Dell is trying to do things differently.

Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, adds: “Sustainability and ESG commitments are now widely recognised as business imperatives that impact everything from supplier decisions to business strategy.

"At Dell, we are both meeting our goals and helping customers meet theirs.”

In 2024, Dell incorporated 43.1 million kg of reused, renewable or recycled materials into its products. Nearly all its packaging, 96.4%, is made from recycled or renewable sources. This points to a clear shift in the way Dell manages suppliers and materials.

It’s not just about designing greener devices, but changing how and where components are sourced and manufactured.

Circular by design

Dell’s sustainability plans include several key supply chain targets. These include halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, sourcing all electricity from renewables by 2040 and cutting absolute scope 3 emissions, which include supplier emissions and the use of sold products, by 45% by 2030.

To meet these goals, Dell says it is focusing on circular economy principles. A circular economy is a model that aims to keep products and materials in use as long as possible, reducing waste by reusing, repairing and recycling.

Dell’s approach involves redesigning devices so they are easier to fix and maintain. It has introduced Concept Luna — a modular design that includes the world’s first USB-C port that is more durable and easier to repair. This reduces reliance on new parts, which often need to be sourced from around the globe.

The company also provides customers with apps and repair guides, helping extend the life of laptops. This, in turn, reduces the need to enter the supply chain for a replacement. The impact of repair over replacement is crucial, especially when multiplied across millions of users.

Maria Mohr, Sustainability Lead for the Global Presales Technical Community at Dell, comments: “Sustainability has always been integral to how we operate — woven into our processes, products and the ways we help customers achieve their goals.

“We take an end-to-end approach to sustainability. We consider sustainability in every offering – including our as-a-Service solutions for more flexible IT management.

“By connecting robust internal operations with impactful customer solutions, we bring sustainability to every step of the process, fostering progress for businesses and the planet.”

Oxford University suggests practical steps for individuals to reduce laptop-related emissions. These include limiting the number of devices owned, returning unused equipment for reuse, turning devices off rather than leaving them on standby and repairing rather than replacing laptops.

At scale, these changes could reshape demand in the supply chain, reducing the need for extraction, transport and manufacturing of new equipment.

The challenge is balancing global demand for tech with methods that reduce environmental cost — and that starts long before a product is turned on.