Wipro Launches Greenware Desktops

January 29, 2010

Wipro Infotech's eco-friendly Greenware desktops are manufactured with materials completely free of deadly chemicals like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), for the first time in India.

Based on the Inte Core 2 Duo processor, Wipro Greenware range of desktops are free from carcinogenic materials* such as PVC and BFRs. These deadly toxins, once removed, ensure the recycling of electronic products is safer by reducing exposure of poisonous chemicals to the environment. Wipro considers the launch of PVC and BFR free products a major breakthrough in its clean production and recycling policy. It is a very difficult process with no known alternative solution and has taken Wipro more than 2 years of time, effort and investment to come out with a completely toxin-free product - the first in India and amongst very few in the world. As PVC and BFR are widely used in electronics products, it is very difficult to substitute these chemicals in manufacturing processes due to reasons that vary from technical problems to lack of policy framework. Wipro’s R&D team and suppliers have worked tirelessly to find safer alternatives to these chemicals.

The most basic technical requirement for alternative materials is that they must perform their intended function, which include minimum design impact, meet or exceed product reliability requirements and meet or exceed current flammability rating. Wipro has taken great care that all these aspects of the alternative material are verified and validated according to IPC norms (Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits).

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anurag Behar, Chief Executive of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering Ecoeye, Social and Community Initiatives said, “Wipro believes in creating an ecologically sustainable organization and business. Wipro has always been meticulous in providing products which are safe for the environment and human health. Wipro Greenware is a major milestone on our road to a sustainable future.”

Commenting on the same, Mr. Anand Sankaran, Sr. Vice President & Business Head, India & ME business, Wipro said, “Wipro Infotech has taken significant strides and strong leadership in Green Computing, providing responsible and environment sensitive computing solutions to our customers. Wipro Greenware range of desktops is a leading step by an organization of Indian origin that helps accelerate adoption of Green Computing by responsible corporate citizens. Our efforts in energy conservation, e-waste management, innovative products like Greenware and continuous awareness programs, re-affirm our leadership in green technology and innovation which has earned us ‘India’s Number 1 Green Brand’ recognition from Greenpeace.”

Speaking on this achievement Mr. R Ravichandran, Director – Sales, Intel South Asia said, “Intel is taking an aggressive stance toward environmental sustainability, from the elimination of lead and a focus on greater energy efficiency of our products to fewer air emissions and more water and materials recycling. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor family is designed to provide energy efficient performance and the Wipro Greenware range of desktops based on this processor will take green computing to the next level. We are proud to be associated with Wipro in this endeavor.”

Mr. Ashok Tripathy, General Manager & Head, Systems &Technology business said “The core mission of Wipro Green Computing is to work towards clean and sustainable IT products and solutions which help customers achieve high productivity in energy, space and asset management. Wipro Greenware is testimony to our leadership and commitment in providing Green products free of deadly chemicals which are easy to recycle. In spite of challenges, we were determined phase out PVC and BFRs from our products. It took innovative thinking, R&D and investments and ecosystem participation to finally introduce a breakthrough product that ensures safer recycling. I am happy that we have been able to accomplish this and give India its very first PVC & BFR free product.”

*BFRs or brominated flame retardants are added to materials to slow down their rate of combustion. BFRs have toxic properties and also have a tendency to accrue in the environment. PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a cheap plastic used extensively by the electronics industry mainly as an insulator and coating for electrical cables. Both PVC and BFR are not easily biodegradable and therefore pose a serious threat to the environment.