Our 2024 Impact Report: A Year of Progress
As we close out 2024, I'm pleased to share our annual impact report. This document represents our commitment to transparency: celebrating our achievements while honestly acknowledging where we fell short.
At Digital Earth, we believe sustainability isn't a destination but a journey. This report is a snapshot of where we are on that journey.
2024 At a Glance
These headline numbers represent real environmental impact, but they're just the beginning of the story. Let me break down what we achieved across our key focus areas.
Materials & Sourcing
Our commitment to using recycled and sustainable materials continued to strengthen in 2024.
What we achieved:
- Increased average recycled content across all products to 75% (up from 68% in 2023)
- Launched our first product with 100% recycled aluminum chassis (the EcoBook Pro)
- Diverted 2.5 million plastic bottles from ocean-bound waste streams
- Achieved 100% conflict-free mineral sourcing for the third consecutive year
- Introduced FSC-certified bamboo components in our tablet line
Where we fell short:
- Our target was 80% recycled content; we reached 75%
- Battery recycled content remains at 45%, below our 60% target
- Display glass recycled content is still minimal due to technical limitations
2025 Goals:
- Achieve 85% average recycled content
- Increase battery recycled content to 55%
- Pilot recycled display glass in one product line
Carbon & Energy
Climate action remained a top priority throughout the year.
What we achieved:
- Maintained 100% renewable electricity in all owned facilities
- Offset 100% of product lifecycle emissions through verified carbon removal
- Increased supply chain renewable energy to 65% (up from 52%)
- Reduced per-unit manufacturing emissions by 18%
- Planted 150,000+ trees through reforestation partnerships
Where we fell short:
- Supply chain target was 75% renewable; we reached 65%
- Shipping emissions increased 8% due to supply chain disruptions requiring air freight
- Scope 3 emissions (supply chain) still represent 85% of our total footprint
2025 Goals:
- Achieve 80% supply chain renewable energy
- Reduce shipping emissions by 15% through logistics optimization
- Set validated Science Based Targets for net zero
"Transparency about our challenges is as important as celebrating our wins. Real progress requires honest assessment."
Circular Economy
Keeping products and materials in use longer is essential to reducing our environmental impact.
What we achieved:
- Maintained 9/10 repairability score across all product lines
- Processed 25,000+ devices through our take-back program
- Achieved 45% refurbishment rate on returned devices (sold as certified refurbished)
- Published repair guides for all products on our website
- Launched spare parts store for DIY repairs
Where we fell short:
- Take-back program participation is still below 20% of eligible customers
- Refurbishment rate target was 55%; we achieved 45%
- Some component shortages limited repair availability
2025 Goals:
- Increase take-back participation to 30%
- Achieve 55% refurbishment rate
- Expand repair partner network to 500 locations
Social Impact
Sustainability encompasses people as well as planet.
What we achieved:
- 100% living wage commitment across all facilities
- Completed third-party audits of all tier-1 suppliers
- Donated 5,000 refurbished devices to educational programs
- 92% employee satisfaction score (up from 88%)
- Increased supplier diversity spending to 15% of total procurement
Where we fell short:
- Tier-2 supplier audit coverage is only 40%
- Gender diversity in technical roles is 32%, below our 40% target
2025 Goals:
- Audit 70% of tier-2 suppliers
- Achieve 38% women in technical roles
- Donate 10,000 devices to educational programs
Financial Sustainability
Our environmental mission must be economically sustainable to endure.
Key metrics:
- Revenue growth: 28% year-over-year
- Sustainability premium: Customers pay 8% more for our products vs. conventional alternatives
- Customer retention: 78% of customers made repeat purchases
- 1% for the Planet: Donated $1.2M to environmental organizations
These numbers demonstrate that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive. Our customers value sustainability, and that value translates to business results that fund continued environmental investment.
Certifications & Recognition
Third-party validation provides accountability.
- B Corp Certified: Score of 89.3 (up from 82.1)
- EPEAT Gold: All laptop and tablet products
- Climate Neutral Certified: All products
- 1% for the Planet Member: Third consecutive year
- EcoVadis Gold: Supply chain sustainability rating
Looking Ahead: 2025 Priorities
Based on where we fell short and where we see the greatest opportunity for impact, here are our priority areas for 2025:
- Supply chain decarbonization: This is our largest remaining emissions source. We'll intensify work with suppliers to accelerate their renewable energy transition.
- Circular economy expansion: Growing our take-back program and refurbishment capabilities to keep more devices in productive use.
- Battery sustainability: Investing in R&D and supplier partnerships to increase recycled content in batteries.
- Transparency: Launching real-time sustainability dashboards so customers can track our progress throughout the year.
A Note on Methodology
All data in this report has been verified by EcoAudit Partners, an independent sustainability consulting firm. Our carbon accounting follows the GHG Protocol. Product lifecycle assessments are conducted according to ISO 14040/14044 standards.
Full methodological documentation is available upon request.
Thank You
None of this progress would be possible without our customers who choose to vote with their wallets for a more sustainable technology industry. Every purchase supports our mission and funds continued investment in environmental innovation.
We're proud of what we accomplished in 2024, honest about where we fell short, and committed to doing better in 2025. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Sarah Chen
CEO, Digital Earth