World Environment Day 2023, celebrated on June 5th, revolves around the theme "Beat Plastic Pollution." This global event, organized by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), has taken place annually since 1973. In its 50th year, it serves as a reminder that individual actions have a significant impact on combating plastic pollution. Urgent acceleration of these actions is necessary due to the projected nearly tripling of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems by 2040.
According to the UNEP, over 400 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year, with half of it intended for single-use purposes. Shockingly, less than 10% of this plastic is recycled. Annually, an estimated 19-23 million tons end up polluting lakes, rivers, and oceans, which is equivalent to the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers. This pollution adversely affects more than 800 marine and coastal species through ingestion, entanglement, and other hazards.
Microplastics, which are minute plastic particles measuring up to 5mm in diameter, contaminate food, water, and air. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes over 50,000 plastic particles per year, and even more if inhalation is considered.
Given the availability of scientific knowledge and solutions to address this issue, it is crucial for governments, companies, and other stakeholders to increase the scale and speed of their actions to help resolve this crisis.
Keysight is committed to making a positive impact on the planet by offering sustainable electronic measurement solutions that drive innovation, improve lives, ensure global security, and connect people worldwide. We prioritize the well-being of our employees, the environment, and the communities where we operate. Our core belief is conducting business ethically, legally, and with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
At Keysight, environmental sustainability permeates all aspects of our business, including our policies, products, services, and the actions of each employee. We are dedicated to reducing plastic usage in our operations across various sites globally. Here are some of the initiatives we have implemented:
Following an inspiring initiative at our largest manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia, Keysight facilities worldwide eliminated single-use plastic straws in 2020.
In Japan, we replaced single-use chopsticks with reusable ones in our café.
Through our product take-back program, we strive to minimize the environmental impact of our products and operations by offering reuse programs.
These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices throughout our organization.
Keysight's Contribution to a Circular Economy
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), transitioning to a circular economy can significantly reduce plastic waste in oceans by more than 80% by 2040, decrease virgin plastic production by 55%, save governments $70 billion by 2040, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.
At Keysight, our primary contribution to a Circular Economy lies in ensuring that our solutions are designed and manufactured to support an extensive use phase of up to 40 years. We achieve this through our calibration, repair, and remarketing services, which promote a circular economy approach. Our equipment is maintained, repaired, refurbished, and recycled, ensuring their longevity and sustainability.
Keysight Services play a crucial role in safeguarding our customers' investment in our equipment, following these principles:
MAINTAINING: Our instruments undergo periodic calibration services to ensure consistent and accurate results throughout their lifespan. This approach guarantees the quality of measurements year after year. REPAIRING: While our products are designed for long-term reliability, occasional failures may occur. Our repair services aim to minimize instrument downtime and customer disruptions. We provide support for equipment for at least five years after it is withdrawn from the market. REFURBISHING: Technology evolves over time, and we offer enhancements and upgrades to extend the useful life of equipment. When customers require newer equipment, we incentivize them to return their existing equipment through substantial trade-in discounts. We have a dedicated business unit that refurbishes equipment for sale. RECYCLING: Equipment only enters the waste stream many decades after its initial release. Our contribution to waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is negligible, accounting for less than 0.7% of all EU WEEE. While returning equipment to Keysight is an option, most customers responsibly manage end-of-life equipment through their B2B waste processes. According to the UNEP, over 400 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year, with half of it intended for single-use purposes. Shockingly, less than 10% of this plastic is recycled. Annually, an estimated 19-23 million tons end up polluting lakes, rivers, and oceans, which is equivalent to the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers. This pollution adversely affects more than 800 marine and coastal species through ingestion, entanglement, and other hazards.
Microplastics, which are minute plastic particles measuring up to 5mm in diameter, contaminate food, water, and air. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes over 50,000 plastic particles per year, and even more if inhalation is considered.
Given the availability of scientific knowledge and solutions to address this issue, it is crucial for governments, companies, and other stakeholders to increase the scale and speed of their actions to help resolve this crisis.
Keysight is committed to making a positive impact on the planet by offering sustainable electronic measurement solutions that drive innovation, improve lives, ensure global security, and connect people worldwide. We prioritize the well-being of our employees, the environment, and the communities where we operate. Our core belief is conducting business ethically, legally, and with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
At Keysight, environmental sustainability permeates all aspects of our business, including our policies, products, services, and the actions of each employee. We are dedicated to reducing plastic usage in our operations across various sites globally. Here are some of the initiatives we have implemented:
Following an inspiring initiative at our largest manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia, Keysight facilities worldwide eliminated single-use plastic straws in 2020.
In Japan, we replaced single-use chopsticks with reusable ones in our café.
Through our product take-back program, we strive to minimize the environmental impact of our products and operations by offering reuse programs.
These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices throughout our organization.
Keysight's Contribution to a Circular Economy
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), transitioning to a circular economy can significantly reduce plastic waste in oceans by more than 80% by 2040, decrease virgin plastic production by 55%, save governments $70 billion by 2040, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.
At Keysight, our primary contribution to a Circular Economy lies in ensuring that our solutions are designed and manufactured to support an extensive use phase of up to 40 years. We achieve this through our calibration, repair, and remarketing services, which promote a circular economy approach. Our equipment is maintained, repaired, refurbished, and recycled, ensuring their longevity and sustainability.
Keysight Services play a crucial role in safeguarding our customers' investment in our equipment, following these principles:
Transitioning from Pollution to Solution
In order to shift from pollution to solutions for plastic waste, it is crucial to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated on land. Plastic waste can persist in the environment for centuries, making it necessary to move away from business-as-usual practices. Various improvement steps can be taken, from avoiding the use of problematic single-use plastics to seeking long-term solutions that incorporate durable alternative materials and products.
Addressing plastic pollution requires a comprehensive and innovative approach to halt the flow of problematic plastics into our lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans. To bring about real change, it is essential for us to act collectively and make more informed purchasing decisions. By joining forces, we can transition from pollution to solutions, creating a cleaner and healthier planet for all.