Dell Technologies, ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 with $88.4 billion in FY24 revenue, has embedded environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments across all dimensions of its global business. The company’s most recent FY24 ESG Report, the latest publicly consolidated sustainability document as of this writing, organizes its commitments under four pillars: Advancing Sustainability, Cultivating Inclusion, Transforming Lives, and Upholding Trust. Dell has validated its climate targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and holds a net-zero commitment across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2050. In FY24, Dell earned a Platinum EcoVadis medal, placing it in the top 1% of assessed companies globally.
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
https://thecuberesearch.com/dells-fy24-esg-report-outlines-progress-esg-initiatives/
Sustainability Strategy and Goals
Dell’s ESG strategy aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Economic Forum’s Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics, both of which Dell helped develop as an initial signatory. The company reports against GRI standards, SASB hardware and software frameworks, and CDP Climate Change and Water Security responses. A double materiality assessment was initiated in FY24 and is targeted for completion in upcoming ESG reports.
Net Zero and Carbon Emissions
Dell’s SBTi-validated targets require a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (baseline FY20) and a 30% absolute reduction in Scope 3 emissions from the use of sold products by 2030.
- FY25: Scope 1 emissions reached 36,700 MT CO₂e, representing a 36.7% reduction since FY20
- FY25: Market-based Scope 2 emissions fell 50.6% to 118,700 MT CO₂e, meeting the 2030 midpoint
- FY24: Scope 3 emissions from use of sold products were reduced 22.2% from the FY20 baseline, against a 30% target by 2030
- FY25: Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services dropped 21.1% despite business growth, driven by circular design and supplier engagement
- FY25: Upstream logistics emissions (Scope 3, Category 4) fell 40.8% by shifting to lower-carbon carriers and optimizing global transport
Water Stewardship
Dell tracks water use across its owned and managed sites globally and reports to CDP Water Security annually since 2017. The company engages suppliers in water risk assessments through its Social and Environmental Responsibility (SER) audit program, which targets high-risk geographies. Supplier water stewardship is listed as a material ESG topic in Dell’s double materiality framework.
Regenerative Agriculture
Dell does not operate in the agriculture sector and does not publish regenerative agriculture goals in its FY24 ESG Report. The company’s focus on materials touches adjacent priorities, such as the use of agricultural byproducts like wheat straw in packaging, which was introduced in prior years as part of waste-free packaging innovation. Supply chain environmental management covers Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier footprints, but no formal regenerative agriculture program exists as of FY24 reporting.
Deforestation and Biodiversity
Dell’s packaging strategy directly supports deforestation reduction by replacing virgin fiber with recycled or renewable alternatives. The company achieved 96.4% recycled or renewable packaging materials in FY24, up from lower levels in prior years, and is targeting 100% by 2030. Formal biodiversity or deforestation policies beyond packaging are not yet published in the FY24 ESG disclosure.
Packaging and Circular Economy
Dell’s circular strategy centers on three areas: sustainable product design, recycled material integration, and take-back recovery.
- FY24: 96.4% of packaging materials used recycled or renewable content, up from prior years, nearing the 100% by 2030 goal
- FY24: 14.1% of product content came from recycled, renewable, or reduced carbon emissions materials, against a target of over 50% by 2030
- FY25: Product recycled content rose to 17.4%, a 3.3 percentage point increase from FY24
- Dell was the first in the industry to ship certified 50% recycled content steel in displays
- FY24: Over 43 million kg (95 million lbs) of sustainable materials used in products
- Cumulative recovery since 2007: over 1.3 billion kg of used electronics
Human Rights and Responsible Sourcing
Dell is a founding member of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and enforces the RBA Code of Conduct across its supply chain. The company has adopted the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, formed a Human Rights Advisory Committee, and is a signatory to the UN Global Compact. Salient risks, responsible minerals sourcing, and forced labor prevention are tracked and disclosed annually in the Human Rights section of the ESG report.
Community and Social Impact
Dell targets 1 billion lives improved through digital inclusion programs by 2030.
- FY24: 396 million people reached cumulatively since FY20 through digital inclusion programs and partnerships
- FY24: 51.5% of directly reached individuals identify as girls, women, or underrepresented groups, meeting the annual 50% target
- FY24: 535 nonprofit partners supported in their digital transformation journeys, working toward a goal of 1,000 by 2030
- FY24: 949,000 volunteer hours logged by team members, spanning community projects to pro bono skill-based work
- FY24: 48% of team members participated in giving or volunteering activities, against a 75% goal by 2030
Governance and Transparency
Dell reports on ESG in its financial statements and is actively preparing for CSRD compliance and ISSB reporting standards as regulatory requirements expand globally. The company achieved ISS ESG Prime status in FY24 and was recognized for the 12th time as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. A Board-level ESG governance structure and annual risk assessment process anchor accountability.
Technology and Innovation
Dell invested $2.8 billion in R&D in FY24 across hardware design, AI infrastructure, and sustainable materials. Project Fort Zero, Dell’s fully configured Zero Trust security solution, received U.S. Department of Defense validation and targets both public and private sector deployment. Dell also launched software bills of materials (SBOMs) for 70 Dell-designed products by close of FY24, working toward full coverage of all actively sold products by 2025.
Global Partnerships and Advocacy
Dell is a founding signatory to the WEF Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics initiative, alongside 25 other global companies. The company engages policymakers through trade associations on environmental, social, and technological challenges, and its Public Policy section outlines government actions it supports. Dell’s ESG Partner Spotlight program, launched in 2023, celebrates partners in every region for advancing ESG outcomes for their customers and communities.
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
https://thecuberesearch.com/dells-fy24-esg-report-outlines-progress-esg-initiatives/
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/dell-technologies-fy25-impact-by-the-numbers.pdf
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dell-technologies-showcase_greenhouse-gas-emissions-reportpdf-activity-7429397258535608320-fUt3
https://sustainabilitymag.com/articles/dell-modular-design-and-recycling-for-circular-pcs
Inclusive Workforce
Dell’s workforce inclusion targets cover gender, race, and ethnicity representation across all levels.
- FY24: 35% of the global workforce identifies as women, against a goal of 50% by 2030
- FY24: 29.1% of global people leaders identify as women, against a goal of 40% by 2030
- FY24: 16.1% of U.S. workforce identifies as Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino, against a goal of 25% by 2030
- FY24: 12.6% of U.S. people leaders identify as Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino, against a goal of 15% by 2030
- Dell scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index and is one of 30 companies to achieve triple certification status
- Dell scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index, recognized as a Best Place to Work for disability inclusion
Progress vs. Target Tracker
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/dell-technologies-fy25-impact-by-the-numbers.pdf
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dell-technologies-showcase_greenhouse-gas-emissions-reportpdf-activity-7429397258535608320-fUt3
Key Sustainability Innovations and Technologies
Dell’s sustainability innovation spans product design, materials science, supply chain logistics, and digital security.
- Circular design: Dell applies modularity, reparability, and standardization principles to extend product lifecycles and reduce e-waste, operating what it describes as the world’s largest electronics take-back program across 78 countries and territories
- Closed-loop recycled steel: Dell became the first in the technology industry to ship certified 50% recycled content steel in its PC displays in FY24, reducing the carbon intensity of a material that accounts for over 55% of a product’s carbon footprint
- Ocean-bound plastics: Dell integrates ocean-bound plastics into production methods and packaging, contributing to its 96.4% recycled or renewable packaging rate
- Energy intensity: Dell reduced energy intensity by 76% across its entire product portfolio since 2011 and continues to hold ENERGY STAR, TCO, and EPEAT Climate+ certifications
- Supply chain logistics: Upstream logistics emissions dropped 40.8% in FY25 through carrier optimization and modal shifts to lower-carbon transport
- Project Fort Zero: Dell’s AI-assisted, end-to-end Zero Trust security platform validated by the U.S. Department of Defense supports customers in protecting sensitive infrastructure at scale
Source
https://thecuberesearch.com/dells-fy24-esg-report-outlines-progress-esg-initiatives/
https://www.blueconnections.com.au/partners/dell-technologies/esg/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dell-technologies-showcase_greenhouse-gas-emissions-reportpdf-activity-7429397258535608320-fUt3
Measurable Impacts
Dell’s most recent verified data comes from its FY24 ESG Report and FY25 Impact by the Numbers summary, providing a two-year trajectory across key metrics.
- Scope 1 emissions: Fell from a FY20 baseline to 36,700 MT CO₂e in FY25, a 36.7% reduction
- Scope 2 emissions (market-based): Fell 50.6% from FY20 baseline to 118,700 MT CO₂e in FY25
- Scope 3 (purchased goods and services): Reduced 21.1% in FY25 from the FY20 baseline, adjusted for business growth
- Renewable electricity: Rose from a prior baseline to 61.5% in FY24, up from 31.5% Scope 1 and 2 combined reduction in FY23
- Recycled product content: Increased from 14.1% in FY24 to 17.4% in FY25
- Product recovery rate: Rose from 30.1% in FY24 to 33.7% in FY25
- Sustainable materials in products: Over 43 million kg used in FY24 alone
- Cumulative electronics recovery: Over 1.3 billion kg since 2007, reported in FY24
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/dell-technologies-fy25-impact-by-the-numbers.pdf
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Despite meaningful progress on Scope 1 and 2 reductions, Dell faces material gaps across several 2030 commitments.
- Recycled product content: At 17.4% in FY25, Dell is less than one-third of the way to its 50% target with just over four years remaining
- Product recovery rate: At 33.7% in FY25, the goal of achieving a 1:1 collection-to-sales ratio by 2030 remains a substantial distance away
- Scope 3 (purchased goods and services): A 21.1% reduction against a 45% target leaves a gap of nearly 24 percentage points by 2030, and data lags in supplier emissions reporting reduce near-term visibility
- Gender representation: Women make up 35% of the global workforce (target: 50%) and 29.1% of people leaders (target: 40%), both requiring acceleration to close
- Racial and ethnic representation: U.S. workforce representation of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino employees stands at 16.1% against a 25% target
- Volunteering participation: Only 48% of team members participate in giving or volunteering against a 75% goal
- Trust measurement: Dell announced its “most trusted technology partner” goal in FY23 and as of FY24 had still not established a measurement pipeline
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/dell-technologies-fy25-impact-by-the-numbers.pdf
Future Plans and Long-Term Goals
Dell’s formal roadmap extends to 2030 for interim targets and 2050 for net-zero.
- By 2030: Reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% from FY20, source 75% renewable electricity, and achieve over 50% recycled or renewable product content
- By 2040: Source 100% of electricity from renewable sources across all Dell Technologies facilities
- By 2050: Achieve net-zero GHG emissions across all Scopes, validated by SBTi
- By 2030: Recover, reuse, or recycle one metric ton of product for every metric ton sold, effectively creating a full circular loop for electronics
- By 2030: Support 1,000 nonprofit partners in digital transformation and reach 1 billion people through digital inclusion programs
- By 2025: Publish SBOMs for all actively sold Dell-designed and branded products, a commitment on which Dell reported 70 completed products at FY24 close
Dell’s circular design push, if successful, would place it ahead of most large technology manufacturers in sustainable materials integration, where competitors have not committed to a 1:1 product recovery ratio.
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
https://www.dell.com/en-us/lp/dt/climate-action
Comparisons to Industry Competitors
Dell competes directly with HP and Lenovo on sustainability metrics, both of which have similarly structured SBTi-aligned programs.
HP holds an advantage in both renewable energy coverage and circular materials integration, with 43% circular materials compared to Dell’s 17.4% product content figure. Lenovo distinguishes itself as the first PC and smartphone maker to validate a net-zero target with SBTi. Dell leads on electronics take-back scale, operating the industry’s largest recovery program across 78 countries.
Source
https://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c09211172
https://investor.lenovo.com/en/financial/results/presentation_2024_esg.pdf
https://news.lenovo.com/pressroom/press-releases/lenovo-releases-fy-2024-25-esg-report-showcasing-measurable-progress-industry-leadership/
https://www.icmrindia.org/case-study-details?casecode=BECG192
What to Watch: 12 to 18 Month Indicators
Three specific developments will most materially affect Dell’s ESG standing through late 2026.
Recycled product content trajectory: At 17.4% in FY25, Dell needs to nearly triple this figure to reach 50% by 2030. If FY26 data does not show an acceleration above 4 percentage points annually (compared to 3.3 points FY24 to FY25), the 2030 target becomes structurally unreachable. This metric is the single largest gap between current performance and stated 2030 ambition.
SBOM completion for all active products: Dell committed to publishing software bills of materials for all actively sold Dell-designed products by 2025, with 70 products completed at the close of FY24. An FY25 or early FY26 confirmation of full coverage would signal a meaningful step in supply chain security leadership, while a delay would indicate organizational execution risk on a publicly stated deadline.
Scope 3 purchased goods and services acceleration: With a 45% reduction target by 2030 and only 21.1% achieved as of FY25, Dell’s supplier engagement program faces its most critical testing period. Watch for FY25 ESG report disclosures on Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier audit completion rates and emissions reduction commitments, as these will determine whether the gap narrows or widens in the final years before 2030.
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/dell-technologies-fy25-impact-by-the-numbers.pdf
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dell-technologies-showcase_greenhouse-gas-emissions-reportpdf-activity-7429397258535608320-fUt3
Dell has built a credible and SBTi-validated emissions reduction program, and its FY25 Scope 2 performance at 50.6% reduction represents real structural progress rooted in renewable energy procurement and operational efficiency. The 1.3 billion kg cumulative electronics recovery and the world’s largest take-back program show genuine scale in the circular economy, and the industry-first 50% recycled steel milestone in displays demonstrates materials leadership.
The gaps, however, are real and widening in two areas. Recycled product content at 17.4% is the most visible underperformance relative to ambition, and at the current pace of approximately 3 percentage points per year, Dell would arrive at 2030 with a figure closer to 35% than 50%. Scope 3 from purchased goods presents a similar structural risk, with a 45% target and less than half that achieved five years into the commitment.
Three strategic takeaways for practitioners benchmarking or replicating Dell’s approach:
- Packaging is where circular commitments are most achievable at scale. Dell’s 96.4% recycled or renewable packaging figure reflects what is possible when material specifications are controlled close to the brand. Practitioners should front-load packaging commitments before attempting product-level material substitution.
- The separation of product content recycled percentage from packaging recycled percentage matters for reporting credibility. Dell’s transparent disclosure of 17.4% vs 96.4% allows practitioners to understand where true circularity gaps exist, rather than blending numbers that obscure underperformance.
- Scope 3 purchased goods reduction requires supplier-level engagement that takes years to mature. Firms replicating Dell’s model should expect a 5 to 7 year runway before supplier emissions data is reliable enough to show verified reductions, and should invest in audit infrastructure from day one.
Source
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/delltechnologies-fy24-esg-report.pdf
https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/solutions/business-solutions/briefs-summaries/dell-technologies-fy25-impact-by-the-numbers.pdf
https://thecuberesearch.com/dells-fy24-esg-report-outlines-progress-esg-initiatives/
