Dell launches environmentally sustainable jewellery line

Dell is collaborating with actress, activist and entrepreneur Nikki Reed to launch a recycled gold jewellery collection.

The range will use gold recovered from computer motherboards, including the Latitude 5285 2-in-1.

The Circular Collection by Bayou with Love and Dell is a new limited edition jewellery collection made in the US and sourced from gold recovered from Dell's recycling programs.

The jewellery range, which includes 14- and 18-carat gold rings, earrings and cufflinks, aims to highlight the widespread impact that e-waste, or disposable electronic equipment, has on the environment and the role we play in advancing a circular economy.

Reed, co-founder of Bayou with Love, comments on the movement, "Bayou with Love was created to bring greater awareness to the human impact on our planet and show that beautiful items can come from sustainably sourced and recycled materials.

"By recycling gold that was once considered 'waste,' Dell and I are working to create an environment where we continuously reuse resources and strive for zero waste.

Currently, only 12.5% of e-waste is recycled into other products, and as a result, it's estimated that Americans throw away $60 million in gold and silver every year through unwanted phones alone.

Dell's vice chairman, Jeff Clarke, comments, "At Dell, we pride ourselves in finding better, more efficient ways to do business particularly throughout our supply chain."

"Materials innovation – where and how we source things like plastic, carbon fiber and now gold for our products – is increasingly important for us.

Additionally, Dell will also use recycled gold from used electronics in new computer motherboards, which will ship in the Latitude 5285 2-in-1s starting this spring. This pilot is an industry-first and follows a successful feasibility study on server motherboards.

The closed-loop gold process could support the creation of millions of new motherboards in the next year, claims Dell, and expands the company's closed loop program from plastics to precious metals.

Clarke continues, "When you think about the fact that there is up to 800x more gold in a ton of motherboards than a ton of ore from the earth, you start to realise the enormous opportunity we have to put valuable materials to work. Nikki Reed gets that and so do we.

"It takes constantly thinking outside of the box and pushing the boundaries of innovation to solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.