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IBM's Product Stewardship program was established in 1991 to bring additional focus to the corporate environmental affairs policy objectives on product
environmental design and performance. Throughout the 1990s and continuing through today, IBM has introduced many industry-leading practices in design for the
environment, product environmental metrics and product recycling. IBM's historical legacy of leadership when it comes to the environment attests to the company's
proactive initiatives and its vision in incorporating hardware development and product design processes into a globally certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management
System (EMS). For more information, see IBM product design and ISO 14001.
The Product Stewardship program within IBM's worldwide EMS provides development organizations with direction and goals, infrastructure, tools and expertise to apply
environmental life cycle considerations from product concept through product end-of-life management. The objectives of IBM's Product Stewardship program include:
- Develop products with consideration for their upgradeability to extend product life.
- Develop products with consideration for their reuse and recyclability at the end of product life.
- Develop products that can safely be disposed of at the end of product life.
- Develop and manufacture products that use recycled materials where they are technically and economically justifiable.
- Develop products that will provide improvements in energy efficiency and/or reduced consumption of energy.
- Develop products that minimize resource use and environmental impacts through selection of environmentally preferred materials and finishes.
These objectives are implemented through internal standards, product specifications, and other requirements in IBM's Integrated Product Development process. Product
environmental attributes such as energy efficiency, materials content, chemical emissions testing, design for recycling, end-of-life management plans, and packaging
data must be documented and reviewed in IBM's Product Environmental Profile tool at various check points during the development process. Compliance management tools
like the Product Content Declaration for IBM's suppliers support the assessments required for a complete Product Environmental Profile prior to product release.
Environmental design requirements are communicated and verified with suppliers through the following tools:
Program metrics supporting IBM's Product Stewardship goals and targets are reported annually in IBM's Environmental and corporate responsibility reports.
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