Caring for the Environment: ASUS Sustainable Packaging

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, optimisation 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.