Collaboration with suppliers and customers as well as with internal departments such as marketing, purchasing, and transportation is helping Microsoft take steps toward sustainability. This photo contrasts Older-larger-packages for software and hardware with newer-smaller-and more efficient ones.
For software packaging (the group of packages to the left) Microsoft is reducing and standardizing carton materials and reducing box carton spine sizes (rear). Microsoft is eliminating PVC from packaging (right rear) and moving to other material options, like PET, or completely removing outer clamshell packaging (center right). Printed software manuals are being reduced in weight, page count, and overall size (center left). Standardizing disk sleeves (front) leverage a common single material design that also allows automation of disk packaging.
Similar changes are taking place for hardware packaging, the group of packages to the right. The company is reducing sizes of printed manuals (foreground). It is reducing the overall packaging footprint on some Mice and keyboard products (right center). Microsoft shrank the outside package cube on the new next generation Xbox 360 console carton compared to 1st generation Xbox allowing more units to ship per pallet (rear). It moved from polystyrene end-cap cushioning to paper solutions on the internal Xbox 360 console packaging as well. The new Xbox 360 packaging for controllers and other accessories has been reduced compared to first generation Xbox (left center).
“As Microsoft products evolve so does its packaging,” says Microsoft’s Scott Ballantine.
See the story that goes with this sidebar: Embracing the promise of sustainable packaging
