700-240 Cisco Environmental Sustainability Overview(CESO) Question and Answers

Cisco has committed to incorporating the principle of Circular Design into 100% of its new products and packaging by 2025. This principle is fundamental to Cisco's sustainability strategy, aiming to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency. Circular Design involves creating products that are easier to repair, reuse, and recycle, thereby extending their lifecycle and reducing environmental impact. This initiative aligns with global sustainability trends and Cisco's broader goal of promoting a circular economy.

Companies are moving to a circular economy for several key reasons:

Increase Revenue:By adopting circular economy principles, companies can create new revenue streams through innovative product offerings and services. This model encourages the sale ofrefurbished or remanufactured products, which can attract cost-conscious customers and open new market segments.

Cut Costs:Circular economy practices often lead to significant cost savings by reducing waste and improving resource efficiency. By designing products that are easier to repair, reuse, and recycle, companies can lower production costs and minimize waste disposal expenses.

Differentiate Themselves to Customers:Companies that embrace circular economy principles can enhance their brand reputation and differentiate themselves in the marketplace. Consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable products and are more likely to support companies that demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility.

These reasons are supported by Cisco’s sustainability initiatives which focus on promoting a circular economy, enhancing resource efficiency, and reducing waste through various programs such as the Refresh and Takeback and Reuse programs. More details can be found on Cisco’s sustainability webpage and their corporate social responsibility reports.

Cisco plans to reduce plastic packaging by 75% (measured by weight) by 2025. This effort is part of Cisco's larger strategy to minimize its environmental footprint and promote sustainability across its operations. Reducing plastic use helps mitigate pollution, decrease dependency on fossil fuels, and supports the transition to more sustainable materials. Cisco's environmental sustainability documents outline various measures, including redesigning packaging, using alternative materials, and improving recycling processes to achieve this goal.

Cisco's Purpose Report has been described by several names, including CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), Social Impact, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). These reports cover Cisco's initiatives and progress in sustainability, social responsibility, and governance, providing transparency and accountability in their efforts to create a positive impact on society and the environmenthttps://blogs.cisco.com/csr/powering-an-inclusive-future-a-message-from-ceo-chuck-robbins

Cisco’s enterprise-wide program that includes Circular Design, Circular Solutions, and Ecosystem Leadership is known as the Circular Economy program. This initiative aims to promote sustainable practices by designing products for longevity, reducing waste through reuse and recycling, and collaborating with partners to create a sustainable ecosystem. The program is a core part of Cisco's environmental sustainability strategy, as outlined in their Environmental Sustainability Specialization (ESS) Program and related documents​ (Cisco Blogs)​.https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/environmental-sustainability-specialization

Approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted worldwide each year. This substantial amount of food waste contributes to environmental degradation and highlights the need for more effective waste management and sustainability practices. Reducing food waste is critical for improving food security and minimizing the environmental impact of food production and disposal​https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2022/02/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.html

Today, approximately 9% of the world’s plastic is recycled. This low recycling rate highlights the significant challenges in managing plastic waste and emphasizes the need for better recycling infrastructure and practices globally. Cisco addresses plastic waste through its sustainability programs, aiming to reduce plastic use and promote recycling as part of its environmental initiatives​ (EcoWatch)​​ (OECD)​​ (RubyHome)​.https://www.ecowatch.com/recycling-stats.html

Circular Solutions impact the enterprise-wide Circular Economy program by shaping and pioneering technology solutions and services that enable circular economy value creation for customers. This includes developing innovative products and services that facilitate reuse, repair, and recycling, thereby reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency. Cisco’s commitment to circular solutions is integral to its overall sustainability strategy and efforts to promote a circular economy​

https://blogs.cisco.com/csr/stepping-up-our-work-on-circularity