Eco Responsibility

Product Life Cycle

Introduction Global Product Returns Hazardous Materials

Sun believes we have a responsibility to consider and plan for every phase in our products' life cycles, from design and packaging to the stage when electronic components and equipment naturally reach an end of life. This idea embodies our far-reaching commitment to Product Life Cycle. Initiate a Return

Taking Responsibility for Product End of Life

Sun is fully committed to globally managing our returned products when they come to the end of their useful life for the customer, including remanufacturing for other uses or recycling. When a product is recycled, we strive to ensure all recycling activities result in over 99 percent of the total weight processed being completely recycled.

As electronic components and equipment naturally reach an end of life. Sun believes we have a responsibility to design and plan for this phase in our products' life cycles.

As a result, Sun extends a global product returns program. End users can have complete confidence that their end-of-life equipment will be managed securely and responsibly once Sun takes ownership. Once returned to Sun, used electronic equipment is managed by an approved recycling partner. End of life products are prioritized for reuse and recovery when viable, and only those with no reuse potential are sent for recycling. Sun's program directs less then 0.5% of the total weight sent to the recycling partner to local landfills. Sun and our recycling partners continually search for opportunities to reduce and ultimately reduce this percentage to zero.

As global awareness and legislation targeting responsible recycling develops, Sun expects the volume of returned end-of-life products to grow. We're actively preparing for this challenge to ensure that all returned equipment is managed and recycled in a secure and responsible manner.

Sun is passionate about ensuring our recycling is conducted in an environmentally responsible manner. To assure we achieve the highest standard, we have a comprehensive program consisting of:

Supplier Selection and Management
Sun Microsystems Electronic Recycler Standard (aligned with the US EPA R2 Standard)
Perpetual Audit Program
Monthly Management Reporting
Assured Data Destruction Capabilities

This program enables Sun to continuously review and relentlessly pursue world class end-of-life product management.

Find out more about Sun's positioning statement on the European Union Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which took effect on August 13, 2005.

Learn more about Sun's Environment, Health & Safety group.