Dell Computer  [Printer-friendly version]
December 1, 2005

DELL'S NEW POLICY ON 'SUBSTANCES OF CONCERN'

Dell's Environment Policy
Dell's Chemical Use Policy

[Rachel's introduction: Dell Computer has just adopted a
precautionary environmental policy.]

Dell's vision is to avoid the use of substances in its products that
could seriously harm the environment or human health and to ensure
that we act responsibly and with caution.

To act responsibly, Dell believes that if reasonable scientific
grounds indicate a substance (or group of substances) could pose
significant environmental or human health risks, even if the full
extent of harm has not yet been definitively established,
precautionary measures should be taken to avoid use of the
substance(s) in products unless there is convincing evidence that the
risks are small and are outweighed by the benefits. Dell considers
these to be "substances of concern."

Dell identifies substances of concern with consideration for legal
requirements, international treaties and conventions, specific market
demands, and by the following criteria:

* Substances with hazardous properties that are a known threat to
human health or the environment;

* Substances with hazardous properties that show strong indications of
significant risks to human health or the environment;

* Substances with hazardous properties that are known to biopersist
and bioaccumulate in humans or the environment.

To enforce the company's precautionary measures, Dell strives to
eliminate substances of concern in its products by:

* Maintaining a Banned and Restricted Substance Program,

* Choosing designs and materials that avoid the use of substances of
concern,

* Prohibiting supplier use of these substances contractually, and

* Substitution of viable alternate substances.

If alternatives are not yet viable, Dell works with its industry
partners to promote industry standards and the development of
reliable, environmentally sound, and economically scalable technical
solutions.

To demonstrate our commitment , Dell is striving to eliminate all
remaining uses of brominated flame retardants by 2015, ahead of the
OSPAR (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of
the N.E. Atlantic) Commission's goal. PVC is on Dell's banned and
restricted materials list and we are in the process of phasing out PVC
chassis parts. We will review a phase out plan yearly or when required
and evaluate available technical, environmental and scalable
solutions. Dell is open to discuss these plans and is committed to
continuously improve the environmental quality of our products.