Social Impact for Deeper Business Goals

Authored by Archana Sahay, CSR Head, APJ, Dell Technologies

Now that we have already achieved most of what we set out to do in our 2020 Legacy of Good Plan, we need to deepen our involvement in creating a sustainable future for all. As a responsible technology company, we, at Dell Technologies, believe that we must create shared values where industry and society are partners in progress. For the success of our company, our commitment to global sustainability and inclusivity are non-negotiable. 

From recycling to renewable energy to a more inclusive and diverse workforce, our targets are wide-ranging and complex. Dell has already pioneered the recycling of ocean-polluting plastics, using them for packaging. We have partnered with Chakr Innovation to convert diesel emissions into ink for packaging. We have also recycled more than 2 billion pounds of used electronics - a significant step towards a cleaner Earth. As part of "Progress Made Real", our social impact vision for 2030, we wish to accelerate the circular economy and encourage our partners and customers to participate in protecting the Planet. By 2030, for every product a customer buys, we will reuse or recycle an equivalent product. 

Equally critical is the need to close the diversity gap to build and empower our future workforce while meeting social challenges. In India, 12 million youth join the job market every year. Yet, the lack of industry readiness creates a labour shortage. Dell is forging a workforce fit for tomorrow’s world of technology. Dell employees have already volunteered more than 1,05,000+ hours, empowering the community through technical education. 

Dell Technologies has partnered with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog- a policy think tank of The Government of India, established with the aim to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. Under the Atal Innovation Mission, Dell Technologies has been instrumental in fostering and nurturing Atal Tinkering Labs to foster a problem-solving mindset across schools, thereby working with students, educators and communities alike to drive impact by harnessing experiential learning to benefit the ecosystem. The initiative leverages hands-on tinkering combined with the disruptive technologies in order to foster and build skills that’s suited for Workforce 2030. The skills built includes - communication, leadership, critical-thinking, problem-solving mindset, collaboration etc. This initiative enables the students to work with state-of-art technology including 3D printers, AI, VR etc. - thus, enabling them to be fostered and nurtured in a culture that’s fueled by innovation. The Dell Kaushal Kendra, a state-of-the-art computer hardware lab, is training underprivileged youth in computer manufacturing, networking and repair services. The Dell Youth Learning Program aids thousands of children all over the country amongst which 52% of our beneficiaries are girls. 

The ability to solve complex social challenges opens up huge possibilities, both in terms of scale and impact. We will continue to harness the power of technology in improving the quality of human life. Building technology solutions that can drive meaningful change and impact millions is a priority. Alongside, we will work to bring more people into the digital economy. 

Dell is committed to employing all its knowledge, tools, and resources to create a society where human dignity, ecological sustainability and financial profitability go hand in hand. We look forward to Progress Made Real.