Environmental Leader

Dell took the top spot in the inaugural Corporate Sustainability Index, a survey of technology firms’ sustainability efforts put together by Technology Business Research, a market research and industry advisory firm.

Dell scored an overall 317.9 points, putting it ahead of British Telecom (265.2), IBM (258.5) and Hewlett-Packard (255.1), according to a press release. Dell earned high marks for its efforts in renewable energy, recycling and embedded sustainability strategy.

Intel ranked fifth at 250.5.

High-tech firms have been among the earliest and most aggressive adopters of sustainability efforts, with fierce rivals and partners alike egging each other on, in a bid to spur greater overall sustainbility. In particular, Dell and Intel, which are fairly intertwined, have traded jabs on sustainability, reports Earth2Tech.

Dell has a habit of using its high marks on sustainability to encourage its competitors, including when it called out other PC makers for being slow to adopt computer recycling efforts. When HP pledged to double its renewable energy purchases, Dell called the move “a good first step.” Dell sources about 35 percent of its U.S. energy use from green power.

Just over a week ago, Dell claimed to be the first major computer manufacturer to ban the export of electronic waste including non-working electronics to developing countries as part of its global policy on responsible electronics disposal. Dell offers free computer recycling to consumers worldwide.