BANGALORE, INDIA: Environment-friendly corporate action is becoming the new norm of practice in enterprises. Production of eco-friendly products and the ways of disposing them is of utmost importance for companies today as they try to save whatever "Green" is left on earth.

In an interview with CIOL, Anil Philip, Executive Director, Transaction Business, Lenovo India, talks about Lenovo's efforts in contributing toward a safer and greener earth. Excerpts:

CIOL: What are the steps taken by Lenovo to increase energy efficiency? Since when has Lenovo been eco conscious?
Anil Philip: Lenovo is committed to provide eco-friendly and energy efficient technology choices. The recent ThinkCentre A61e has raised the energy efficiency bar. It is the smallest, quietest and most energy efficient desktop yet, with EPEAT Gold status, the highest designation a product can achieve in the environmental attributes. This product comes with a 45W desktop processor (instead of the traditional 65-90W processors) that save power consumption up to 50 percent annually over the previous ThinkCentre model reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) to a large extent.

We also offer more than 90 EPEAT-registered products with a majority of them being Silver-rated (EPEAT silver rated products is a rating tool established by the Green Electronics Council that evaluates electronic products in relation to 23 required environmental criteria and 51 optional criteria). Lenovo offers a complete, industry-leading line of energy-efficient products that meet the new Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR 4.0 standard.

CIOL: Why the hype now and how far have you come as regards to adopting 'Green IT technologies'?
AP: Energy consumption continues to remain a challenge in the IT sector. IT companies are increasingly becoming conscious in producing recycled and environmentally responsible materials in products to contributing towards making the earth a safe place to stay.

Lenovo has announced several milestones for green product designs. We offer a gamut of products – both in consumer and enterprise segment that conform to the ENERGY STAR 4.0 standard. More than 90 of our products are EPEAT registered Silver rated products. Besides products, we even use recycled and reusable materials for our packaging and educate our customers on how to responsibly dispose off their PC at the end of its life. Because enterprise PC purchases are a large part of Lenovo's business in many parts of the world, Lenovo recommends its enterprise customers about recovery and recycling of these PCs at the end of their life.

CIOL: Does Lenovo have any e-waste strategies in place?
AP: We conduct recycling programs in many countries we operate in, with many of those offering free recycling. In China, Lenovo offers free recycling for individuals, institutions and businesses. In the US, the Lenovo Recycling Service allows consumers and business customers to recycle any manufacturers' PCs, including system units, monitors, printers and optional attachments.

CIOL: What are the major challenges faced by the company in implementing an eco-friendly environment?
AP: The primary challenge faced by companies in manufacturing eco friendly products is a surge in the prices due to the use of green technology. Eco friendly products need technologies that produce less heat resulting in greater reliability and decreased energy use. For instance, Lenovo's A61e desktop uses 45W desktop processor, instead of the 65–90W processors, which makes it significantly energy efficient.

Also due to the inadequate awareness in the consumer segment, there is a lack of demand for green products among individual customers.

CIOL: From the range of products that Lenovo has how many have had the success of being eco friendly? What is the percentage of reduction in energy consumption?
AP: Lenovo offers over 90 EPEAT registered products with majority of them being silver rated. The recent ThinkCentre A61e desktop, which is EPEAT Gold certified is the smallest, lightest, most energy-efficient desktop PC from Lenovo to date.

The recent Lenovo ThinkCentre A61e desktop can help save users up to 50 percent in energy costs annually over previous models of ThinkCentres, due to its energy-efficient 45W processors.

CIOL: Do all the companies abide 100 percent by EPA regulations? Are there any loopholes?
AP: EPA regulation is a product proclamation, which helps a company remain eco–friendly. It's not mandatory for a company to abide by it. Companies that care for environmental safety abide by EPA regulation – hence it is an attitude change in corporates.

CIOL: Does Lenovo have a particular program that it has started with regards to spreading the message of a greener earth?
AP: Lenovo, as an IT company, is increasingly becoming conscious in producing recycled and environmentally responsible materials in products to contributing towards a greener earth.

Besides products, we have the Lenovo Recycling Service, which allows consumers and business customers to recycle any manufacturers' PCs, including system units, monitors, printers and optional attachments.
We even use recycled and reusable materials for our packaging and educate our customers on how to responsibly dispose e-waste