Oct 26, 2023
Developing sustainable packaging for our products is more than just
a vision for ASUS. You may be surprised at the amount of thought and
effort put into the design of our packaging - all with the goals of
making it more sustainable.
Through continuous innovation of packaging materials, optimization
of reusability in packaging parts, expanding cyclability of disposed
packaging, and better usage of space through design, we continuously
hold ourselves to our
ESG promises. Read on to understand how we’re promoting sustainability with our
packaging.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Since 2019
We hear about “eco-friendly packaging” all the time but how exactly
do we define whether packaging is “eco-friendly”? Eco-friendly
packaging should be designed with environmental sustainability in
mind, and minimize environmental. We have integrated reusability
design to prolong our packaging’s usage.
Single use packaging is also a crucial component of packaging but
can be damaging to the environment in numerous aspects. As little as
5% of it can be effectively recycled according to the
research report
from Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2016. To address this issue,
since 2019 ASUS replaced PE (Polyethylene) bags with PET (polyester
or polyethylene terephthalate) non-woven fabric in our packaging.
This material can be recycled multiple times and applied to a
variety of applications, including bags or clothing.
To further reduce the use of single-use-plastics, we have continued
to make improvements to the design of our laptop packaging. From
2020 to 2022, we gradually increased recycled pulp paper usage by
3,834 tons, a 22% usage increase that brought the total recycled
pulp paper usage up to 21,039 tons in 2022. Now more than 90% of the
materials for the packaging boxes for our laptops is made from
recycled pulp, eliminating a large portion of single-use plastics
like PE.
Usage of FSC™-certified packaging has been essential for us to
achieve our sustainability goals. FSC™-certified packaging are
materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™). The
certification applies to paper made of responsibly sourced wood
fiber. Usage of FSC™-certified material in our packaging has grown
over 7-fold from 2020 to 2022, of which in 2022 we’ve used 71.7 tons
of FSC™-certified materials.
In certain sustainability themed products like Zenbook S 13 OLED
(UX5304) we have implemented a “zero plastic” design for packaging.
One of the greatest hurdles we had to overcome with this goal was
the handle design. After experimenting with over 20 different
combinations of paper handles and paper tapes, we have created a
paper handle that is durable enough to hold up to 20 kilograms of
weight. This provides extra guarantee to the durability and security
of carrying the outer case since the
Zenbook S 13 OLED
model itself is only 1 kilogram light. For more about the design of
Zenbook S 13 OLED, click on the link to this article
More with Less — New Thin and Light ASUS Zenbook Laptops.
Eco-Friendly Ink and Paint
In addition to using FSC™-certified paper, we use ink that is
eco-friendly and non-toxic. Our ink meets the EU Directive 94/62/EC
on packaging and packaging waste (PPWD), which requires packaging
materials to be non-toxic not only to humans but also to the
environment. We have also gone the extra mile to ensure our that the
paint and ink used on our packaging worldwide meets additional
requirements that are specific to certain regions. Such efforts
include the following:
Low-VOCs in paint and ink
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are chemicals that vaporize
easily. In 2020 we introduced low-VOCs ink for worldwide packaging
to ensure safety of our employees’ working environment and physical
health.
Suspension of mineral oil as a raw material and plasticizer control
In 2021 we strengthened a requirement for our suppliers to avoid use
of mineral oil, which can clog pores in soil, causing degradation.
The prohibition of mineral oil is an imposed regulation in France
only, but ASUS has made an effort to remove it from our worldwide
distribution to avoid potential harm to our customers.
Plasticizers – or Phthalates - are used to soften ink to increase
its flexibility and adherence. However, this chemical can be
hazardous and cause hormonal imbalance or allergies, so we further
restricted its usage in our print.
Phasing out PAHs
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a material which
consists of the spray paint used on the laptop keyboard and outer
coating. This chemical can potentially cause cancer if inhaled or
absorbed through human skin. We are currently phasing out this
chemical from our paint and ink.
Reducing Carbon Footprint Through Minimalizing Used Space
The compact design of our laptop packaging not only lowers
transportation cost and carbon emission thanks to saved space and
reduced weight, it also contributes to eliminating single-use
cushioning materials completely. You will not find any bubble wraps,
rolled foam, air pillows, or anything of that sort in our laptop
packaging - because we have designed the box to closely “hug” the
laptop and included accessories.
Our packaging is carefully designed and stacked to achieve the
slimmest, most compact box possible. For instance, we have
successfully shrunk our packaging volume by up to 12% for our latest
generation of monitor displays. This contributes to space
utilization and makes transportation 19% more efficient, which
further reduces carbon footprint.
Integrating Reusability into Laptop Packaging
Normally when we find cardboard or plastic components in a product’s
packaging, we tend to throw it out and get it recycled immediately –
but what if the parts could be functional? We have integrated
reusability functions to packaging parts of our
Expertbook B9 (B9400)
and
Expertbook B9 OLED (B9403). These creative designs prolong the packaging’s lifespan and
enhances its functionality.
The purpose of reusability design according to The Circular Design
Guide by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and IDEO is to innovate and
create new ways to be more sustainable and resilient and provide
long-lasting value. Taking our compact packaging a step further, we
have designed parts of our packaging structure to be functional.
Cardboard parts like the laptop holder in our packaging can also be
assembled into an ergonomic laptop stand to prop up the laptop
during usage, and even provide card holding or storage purposes. Now
that’s what you call a win-win when waste is reduced and the cost
for purchasing a new laptop stand is saved!
The packaging of our Expertbook B9 and Expertbook B9 OLED are
designed to bring reusability to consumers. It can contain key
parts and serve as a laptop stand.
ASUS Products with Innovative, Eco-Friendly Packaging
As we work to develop completely recyclable packaging for more and
more products, we are proud to highlight some of the ASUS products
that already feature thoughtful, eco-friendly packaging. A few
examples are as follows.
The packaging of
ROG Phone 6 BATMAN Edition
uses EPP material (high crystalline polypropylene) which can be 100%
recycled. This material is a bead foam which is widely used in the
automotive industry and for packaging. It can be broken down and
recompressed for reuse, making it fully recyclable without producing
additional toxic substances. EPP packaging is also lightweight and,
as a result, reduces carbon emission when products are transported.
We took sustainable packaging a step further in the next generation
of ROG phone – our
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. Besides having an edgy, futuristic design shaped like an onigiri,
the octagonal box of the phone is made using agricultural byproducts
like sugarcane, plant stalk, leaves, and other discarded organic
materials. The result is a completely biodegradable packaging.
Recycled packaging is also used in our ROG Raikiri series
controllers -
ROG Raikiri Pro
&
ROG Raikiri. We produced the product’s box with 100% recyclable wet-molded
pulp that neatly conforms to the controller, achieving a fully
recyclable packaging that’s plastic and adhesive free.
A Greener Future
Making our business model more sustainable is an ongoing journey,
but we have made impressive progress. To learn more about our
sustainability-related efforts, check out
How ASUS Helps Sustain an Incredible, Greener Future
Now, next time you unbox a product from ASUS, you’ll know that
immense care and thought has gone into even the packaging.
Read more about ASUS sustainability