Striving for Sustainability: Meet Nicole

This weblog is a part of our give attention to Cisco workers who’re “Striving for Sustainability” by discovering alternatives to combine sustainability of their day-to-day work.

At Cisco, packaging sustainability is a key facet of our technique to transition to a round enterprise mannequin. We do that by designing packaging that protects our merchandise whereas additionally minimizing environmental affect. This implies utilizing much less supplies when doable and selecting extra sustainable supplies — similar to supplies that include recycled content material and are recyclable or reusable.

I not too long ago sat down with Nicole Kenney, Program Supervisor on the Packaging Engineering staff, who focuses her work on packaging and materials circularity. Nicole has been in a position to analysis and handle initiatives to assist a spread of sustainability points associated to packaging.

What impressed you to pursue a profession in packaging sustainability, and the way did you find yourself at Cisco?

Nicole: Rising up, I used to be all the time in nature and continually juggling a number of artwork initiatives. I knew I wished to do one thing artistic — that led me to the textile and attire trade. After incomes my diploma in supplies and polymer science, I developed materials and packaging for outside efficiency attire and kit. The outside trade was one of many first to take part within the sustainability motion, and thru my work on sustainability initiatives, I noticed preserving nature was my goal.

You would possibly surprise in regards to the transition from attire merchandise to expertise {hardware}, however whatever the trade, packaging challenges are common: the principle precedence is to guard the product. In a round economic system, the following precedence is to contemplate the packaging’s end-of-life. These are the challenges I’ve loved tackling with our packaging engineering staff at Cisco.

The factor I actually love about packaging is that everybody can relate to it. Whether or not we’re making a purchase order at a retailer or receiving a cargo at house, packaging is part of our on a regular basis lives. It serves as an vital handshake between our model and our clients, however to me, it additionally embodies the intersection of science, design, and psychology. Once I got here throughout the open Program Supervisor function and noticed Cisco’s environmental technique, I used to be drawn to the problem.

How is Cisco integrating sustainability in its packaging?

Nicole: For our Packaging Engineering staff, sustainability has developed from a nice-to-have to a vital requirement for each new product introduction. This shift in our course of is essentially as a result of Cisco’s implementation of its Round Design Ideas, which information us in integrating sustainability into all our outputs.

Relating to materials decisions, our packaging engineers are targeted on lowering foam use and discovering alternate options to plastic (or eliminating plastic altogether). Packaging optimization is one other space of focus; for example, multi-packing might help save supplies, which reduces price and environmental affect.

Nonetheless, packaging sustainability varies drastically from one product to the following. Our packaging engineers face a difficult job: there isn’t a set recipe for a extra round pack; slightly, it’s a balancing of a number of distinctive components. They have to prioritize product safety, as a result of reshipping to exchange a broken product undermines sustainability. In addition they take into account product quantity; if a product is high-volume, optimizing dice measurement for palletization effectivity is essential. The extra items that match on a pallet, the less pallets wanted for transport, which streamlines logistics and helps our company web zero technique.

Total, we try to combine recycled content material, cut back plastic utilization, and allow packaging to take part in a round system.

What function does expertise play in advancing Cisco’s packaging sustainability efforts?

Nicole: Relating to expertise and packaging, supplies innovation is crucial to advancing packaging sustainability. Our Packaging Engineering staff collaborates carefully with our suppliers to rethink supplies from starting to finish, with a selected give attention to fiber-based options.

Two examples of supplies innovation embody fiber flute and paper modular cushions. These are each fiber-based cushioning programs that we use as an alternative of standard foam. They’re constituted of post-consumer recycled content material and, like corrugated cushions, are broadly accepted in present recycling infrastructure on the finish of their life cycle.

These new supplies assist contribute to our foam discount efforts. Nonetheless, we’re not merely swapping them out; in depth collaboration happens throughout the design and validation course of. Prototypes are created, match checks are performed, and packaging checks are carried out to make sure the brand new supplies added to our packaging toolkit meet each manufacturing and sustainability necessities.

What are some challenges you would possibly encounter and the way do you overcome them?

Nicole: One problem of lowering packaging impacts is knowing how greatest to measure them. Relating to sustainability, greenhouse gasoline emissions (GHG) are usually the first measure of environmental affect. Nonetheless, analyzing the carbon footprint of Cisco’s merchandise, packaging accounts for 3% or much less of the manufacturing carbon footprint on common. Given this, Cisco’s Packaging Engineers maintain the carbon footprint in thoughts, however design for recyclability to divert waste from landfill and assist the round economic system.

One other problem is discovering protecting supplies that may meet our international provide chain calls for and are regionally accessible. Thrilling materials improvements similar to mushroom foam or bio-based plastics typically spark curiosity, however continuity in sourcing and provide will be tough. It’s additionally difficult to make sure that correct restoration infrastructure for these new supplies is on the market within the markets the place we promote our merchandise. These sorts of fabric improvements are sometimes higher fitted to different product varieties, similar to meals or client packaged items.

At Cisco, we design our packaging to be separable and recyclable. Most of our packaging is fiber-based corrugated board which meets these necessities. Nonetheless, we can not management which bin our clients will use for packaging waste disposal. Recycling infrastructure varies drastically from city to city, each within the US and globally. This fragmentation poses the following problem: learn how to educate our clients on one of the simplest ways to handle packaging waste. We wish clients to make knowledgeable selections about disposal after receiving our merchandise. To deal with this, now we have begun to launch merchandise with easy however informative messaging to assist them perceive what to do with their packaging waste.

What future traits do you see in packaging sustainability?

Nicole: A efficiently scaled round economic system requires collaboration between the enterprise sector, shoppers, and authorities. Amongst them, every entity has a significant function to play in driving sustainability. We’ve noticed firms striving to supply extra sustainable options. Shoppers are more and more looking for extra sustainable choices, evidenced by their buying decisions. Now, we’re seeing a surge of collaboration among the many three entities.

As a company, we’re conscious that governments and the non-public sector are prioritizing circularity, and we acknowledge that this has an affect on our clients. That is an thrilling time as a result of we’re partaking with our clients on packaging sustainability greater than ever earlier than. They’re keen to know our packaging roadmap, and we’re equally serious about theirs. There’s a powerful willingness to share, perceive, and collaborate, making it an exhilarating time.

This development provides me hope that as we work collectively, the round economic system is achievable throughout our enterprise ecosystem.

You may study extra about our packaging objectives in Cisco’s Goal Reporting Hub.

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