Green Points for Microsoft As it Pushes For Sustainability in Supply Chain

The green movement has only been growing stronger in the recent years, and big companies have joined in on the fun. Whether they truly are behind the ideals of green living, or they are taking advantage of the positive publicity, we may not really know, but I think giving them the benefit of a doubt is in order.

Microsoft is not new to this, for it has been involved in its own green initiatives for some time now. To start last year, Microsoft announced its plans to expand its data center in Virginia. It committed more than $300 million to make the data center more energy efficient – less water and electricity use as well as lower building costs.

Early this year, Microsoft also announced that its zero-carbon data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming is just about ready. This facility is part data center and part power plant, relying on biogas for energy.

Now, Microsoft racks up more green points as it looks beyond its data centers to add to its green initiative. Its eye is now turned to its supply chain.

To end last week, the Microsoft Green Blog featured a post titled “Microsoft Makes Commitment to Manufacturing and Supply Chain Sustainability“, where the company opens with:

“…we are pleased to report that Microsoft’s supply chain for hardware and packaging (Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Information Services (MSCIS)) was ISO 14001 certified this month. Though we have had a longstanding commitment to supply chain sustainability, including a strict Supplier Code of Conduct that requires Microsoft suppliers to demonstrate social and environmental responsibility, this level of certification represents a new commitment to minimizing the environmental footprint of our hardware and packaging.”

This basically means we are probably going to see Microsoft products wrapped in different packaging soon. These changes could range from actual physical changes – size being one of them – to the way the packaging has been manufactured, the bottom line being a lower carbon footprint.

So, good on you, Microsoft!

[Image via Microsoft Green Blog]