Environment

Innovating to avoid or reduce environmental impacts

A dedication to creating solutions that help protect the world’s environment is not just part of IBM’s smarter planet agenda, it has been one of the guiding principles of our company for nearly four decades.

IBM’s longstanding commitment to environmental protection was first formalized as a corporate policy in 1971. From how we run our operations to the products and solutions we provide to our clients, we are committed to leadership across environmental areas ranging from energy efficiency and water conservation to pollution prevention and product stewardship.

Here we profile some of our most significant work in the areas of energy conservation and climate protection, environmental requirements in the supply chain, environmentally preferable materials and the management of end-of-life electronic equipment.

4.9 billion kWh of electricity was saved as a result of IBM’s annual energy conservation projects between 1990 and 2008.

3.3 million metric tons of CO2 emissions were avoided as a result, an amount equal to:
48% of IBM’s 1990 global CO2 emissions, which translates into:
$343 million in energy expense savings.

View 2008 key performance indicators and metrics for this section.

The big picture around our environmental efforts

The IBM corporate environment section and the “2008 IBM and the Environment Report” provide comprehensive program and performance information across the breadth of our environmental activities.

We invite you to explore this section to learn about topics ranging from our environmental policy and management system to our programs in areas such as energy management and climate protection, product stewardship, pollution prevention, materials and water conservation and environmental requirements in the supply chain.