Circular Design significantly impacts the industry-wide Circular Economy program by ensuring that products and packaging are designed with circularity in mind. This involves creating products that can be reused, repaired, recycled, and are resource-efficient. Cisco's approach to Circular Design includes training their design community, implementing circular design evaluation methodologies, and reducing the use of virgin plastics and single-use packaging. These efforts help minimize environmental impact and drive innovation within the industry https://blogs.cisco.com/csr/how-ciscos-circular-design-principles-are-helping-to-minimize-environmental-impact

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 Equals Progress) (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/

Cisco has committed to incorporating the principle of Circular Design into 100% of its new products and packaging by 2025. This principle is fundamental to Cisco's sustainability strategy, aiming to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency. Circular Design involves creating products that are easier to repair, reuse, and recycle, thereby extending their lifecycle and reducing environmental impact. This initiative aligns with global sustainability trends and Cisco's broader goal of promoting a circular economy.

Approximately 470 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year. This substantial amount of plastic production underscores the importance of recycling and sustainable waste management practices to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste. Cisco, along with other global companies, is actively working to reduce plastic use and promote recycling as part of their broader sustainability efforts (EcoWatch) (OECD) (RubyHome). https://www.rubyhome.com/blog/recycling-stats/

https://www.ecowatch.com/recycling-stats.html

The internationally accepted standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) is the ISO 14001 certification. This standard helps organizations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders. ISO 14001 provides a framework for organizations to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental conditions in balance with socio-economic needs. Cisco, like many other leading organizations, adheres to this standard to ensure its environmental management practices are effective and continuously improving. More information can be found in Cisco's sustainability and environmental documentation on their ESG Reporting Hub.