700-240 Cisco Environmental Sustainability Overview(CESO) Questions and Answers

According to Cisco's Environmental Sustainability documents, the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced per person each year is around 7 tons. This figure encompasses all CO2 emissions resulting from individual activities and consumption patterns, including transportation, energy use, and other factors contributing to one's carbon footprint. Cisco's commitment to reducing carbon emissions involves both their corporate practices and encouraging individual responsibility to lower CO2 emissions globally.

Net zero refers to the state where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount removed from the atmosphere. This balance can be achieved through various means such as reducing emissions, enhancing natural carbon sinks, and employing carbon capture technologies. Cisco’s Environmental Sustainability documents emphasize the importance of achieving net zero emissions to mitigate climate change and promote environmental health.

In a uniquely challenging year, Cisco set new standards in innovation — and for its core purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.

This was especially true across the company’s vast global supply chain, where a staggering number of components, semi-finished goods, and finished products are moved and assembled with great efficiency, equity, and respect for the environment.

All of this factored in Gartner’s decision to name Cisco No. 1 in its Supply Chain Top 25 — for the second year in a row.

https://newsroom.cisco.com/c/r/newsroom/en/us/a/y2021/m05/q-a-with-john-kern-svp-for-supply-chain-operations.html

The Cisco Foundation has committed $100 million over a ten-year period to address the growing climate crisis. This investment supports initiatives and projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and advancing sustainability efforts. Cisco's Environmental Sustainability documents highlight this financial commitment as part of the company's broader strategy to combat climate change and promote a sustainable future.

Companies are moving to a circular economy for several key reasons:

Increase Revenue:By adopting circular economy principles, companies can create new revenue streams through innovative product offerings and services. This model encourages the sale ofrefurbished or remanufactured products, which can attract cost-conscious customers and open new market segments.

Cut Costs:Circular economy practices often lead to significant cost savings by reducing waste and improving resource efficiency. By designing products that are easier to repair, reuse, and recycle, companies can lower production costs and minimize waste disposal expenses.

Differentiate Themselves to Customers:Companies that embrace circular economy principles can enhance their brand reputation and differentiate themselves in the marketplace. Consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable products and are more likely to support companies that demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility.

These reasons are supported by Cisco’s sustainability initiatives which focus on promoting a circular economy, enhancing resource efficiency, and reducing waste through various programs such as the Refresh and Takeback and Reuse programs. More details can be found on Cisco’s sustainability webpage and their corporate social responsibility reports.

Cisco’s enterprise-wide program that includes Circular Design, Circular Solutions, and Ecosystem Leadership is known as the Circular Economy program. This initiative aims to promote sustainable practices by designing products for longevity, reducing waste through reuse and recycling, and collaborating with partners to create a sustainable ecosystem. The program is a core part of Cisco's environmental sustainability strategy, as outlined in their Environmental Sustainability Specialization (ESS) Program and related documents​ (Cisco Blogs)​.https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/environmental-sustainability-specialization

Globally, only 14% of plastic packaging is recycled. This low recycling rate highlights the significant challenges in managing plastic waste and underscores the importance of adopting circular economy practices. Cisco is actively working to address these challenges through initiatives aimed at reducing packaging waste and increasing the use of recyclable materials. This information is consistent with global environmental reports and Cisco's own sustainability efforts aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing waste.

A pillar of sustainability is economic development. Sustainability encompasses three main pillars: economic development, social development, and environmental protection. Economic development aims to create economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable, ensuring that all individuals benefit and that resources are used efficiently to provide long-term benefits. Cisco's sustainability initiatives include fostering economic development through various programs and partnerships​ (Good EqualsProgress)​​ (UN Global Compact)​.https://goodequalsprogress.com/as-ciscos-global-corporate-social-responsibility-efforts-continually-grow-and-morph-its-improving-the-ways-it-reports-those-efforts-to-the-world/