Dell, Round Rock, Texas, reports that its bamboo packaging has now been certified "compostable," making disposal of the packaging easier and more sustainable. The packaging recently received American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certification. This certification confirms the packaging, made from mechanically pulped bamboo from a Forest Stewardship Council-certified bamboo forest in China, will compost and biodegrade at a rate comparable to known compostable materials when added to a hot, active compost pile. The certification also assures that the compost resulting from the packaging's degradation process is of good quality and can sustain plant growth.
Dell began using bamboo cushions to package its Mini 10 and Mini 10v netbooks in November 2009. It recently extended its use of bamboo packaging to include a number of Inspiron laptops. The company works with bamboo packaging supplier Unisource Global Solutions (UGS) to ensure all processes associated with the bamboo's production meet the highest standards. The company sources its raw bamboo from a forest located in China's Jiangxi Province, far from pandas' known habitats. Dell, Georgia Pacific, UGS, and Environmental Packaging International are also in the process of certifying the packaging for recycling.
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