Striving for Sustainability: Meet Nicole

[ad_1] This weblog is a part of our deal with Cisco staff who're “Striving for Sustainability” by discovering alternatives to combine sustainability of their day-to-day work.

At Cisco, packaging sustainability is a key facet of our technique to transition to a round enterprise mannequin. We do that by designing packaging that protects our merchandise whereas additionally minimizing environmental affect. This implies utilizing much less supplies when attainable and selecting extra sustainable supplies — resembling supplies that include recycled content material and are recyclable or reusable.

I just lately sat down with Nicole Kenney, Program Supervisor on the Packaging Engineering staff, who focuses her work on packaging and materials circularity. Nicole has been capable of analysis and handle initiatives to help a spread of sustainability points associated to packaging.

What impressed you to pursue a profession in packaging sustainability, and the way did you find yourself at Cisco? <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-476281" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/NKenney-photo1.jpg" alt="A woman with long hair wearing a black top" width="248" height="330" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/NKenney-photo1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/NKenney-photo1.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px"/> Nicole Kenney, Program Supervisor on the Packaging Engineering staff. Nicole: Rising up, I used to be at all times in nature and continually juggling a number of artwork initiatives. I knew I needed to do one thing inventive — that led me to the textile and attire trade. After incomes my diploma in supplies and polymer science, I developed materials and packaging for outside efficiency attire and equipment. The outside trade was one of many first to take part within the sustainability motion, and thru my work on sustainability initiatives, I noticed preserving nature was my function.

You would possibly surprise concerning the transition from attire merchandise to know-how {hardware}, however whatever the trade, packaging challenges are common: the primary precedence is to guard the product. In a round financial system, the following precedence is to think about the packaging’s end-of-life. These are the challenges I’ve loved tackling with our packaging engineering staff at Cisco.

The factor I actually love about packaging is that everybody can relate to it. Whether or not we’re making a purchase order at a retailer or receiving a cargo at residence, packaging is part of our on a regular basis lives. It serves as an essential handshake between our model and our clients, however to me, it additionally embodies the intersection of science, design, and psychology. After I got here throughout the open Program Supervisor position and noticed Cisco’s environmental technique, I used to be drawn to the problem.

How is Cisco integrating sustainability in its packaging? Nicole: For our Packaging Engineering staff, sustainability has developed from a nice-to-have to a necessary requirement for each new product introduction. This shift in our course of is essentially as a result of Cisco’s implementation of its Round Design Ideas, which information us in integrating sustainability into all our outputs.

In the case of materials decisions, our packaging engineers are centered on decreasing foam use and discovering alternate options to plastic (or eliminating plastic altogether). Packaging optimization is one other space of focus; as an illustration, multi-packing can assist save supplies, which reduces price and environmental affect.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-476283" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Pkg-Engs-at-Flex-Guad-scaled.jpg" alt="A group of people, wearing blue lab coats, in a supply chain setting." width="501" height="328" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Pkg-Engs-at-Flex-Guad-300x196.jpg 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Pkg-Engs-at-Flex-Guad-1024x670.jpg 1024w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Pkg-Engs-at-Flex-Guad-768x503.jpg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Pkg-Engs-at-Flex-Guad-1536x1005.jpg 1536w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Pkg-Engs-at-Flex-Guad-2048x1341.jpg 2048w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Pkg-Engs-at-Flex-Guad-scaled.jpg 2560w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 501px) 100vw, 501px"/> Nicole and Packaging Engineering staff visiting Flex Guadalajara. Nevertheless, packaging sustainability varies drastically from one product to the following. Our packaging engineers face a difficult job: there is no such thing as a set recipe for a extra round pack; quite, it's a balancing of a number of distinctive elements. They need to prioritize product safety, as a result of reshipping to exchange a broken product undermines sustainability. Additionally they contemplate product quantity; if a product is high-volume, optimizing dice measurement for palletization effectivity is essential. The extra models that match on a pallet, the less pallets wanted for delivery, which streamlines logistics and helps our company internet zero technique.

Total, we try to combine recycled content material, cut back plastic utilization, and allow packaging to take part in a round system.

What position does know-how play in advancing Cisco’s packaging sustainability efforts? Nicole: In the case of know-how and packaging, supplies innovation is crucial to advancing packaging sustainability. Our Packaging Engineering staff collaborates intently with our suppliers to rethink supplies from starting to finish, with a selected deal with fiber-based options.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-476285" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Packaging-Test-Lab.jpg" alt="A packaging test lab." width="500" height="279" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Packaging-Test-Lab-300x167.jpg 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Packaging-Test-Lab-1024x571.jpg 1024w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Packaging-Test-Lab-768x429.jpg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Packaging-Test-Lab-1536x857.jpg 1536w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Packaging-Test-Lab.jpg 2016w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"/> Instance of a packaging check lab the place samples are reviewed for high quality and measured in opposition to specs for conformance. Two examples of supplies innovation embrace fiber flute and paper modular cushions. These are each fiber-based cushioning techniques that we use as a substitute of standard foam. They're constituted of post-consumer recycled content material and, like corrugated cushions, are extensively accepted in present recycling infrastructure on the finish of their life cycle.

These new supplies assist contribute to our foam discount efforts. Nevertheless, we’re not merely swapping them out; intensive collaboration happens through the design and validation course of. Prototypes are created, match checks are carried out, and packaging checks are carried out to make sure the brand new supplies added to our packaging toolkit meet each manufacturing and sustainability necessities.

What are some challenges you would possibly encounter and the way do you overcome them? Nicole: One problem of decreasing packaging impacts is knowing how finest to measure them. In the case of sustainability, greenhouse gasoline emissions (GHG) are usually the first measure of environmental affect. Nevertheless, analyzing the carbon footprint of Cisco’s merchandise, packaging accounts for 3% or much less of the manufacturing carbon footprint on common. Given this, Cisco’s Packaging Engineers maintain the carbon footprint in thoughts, however design for recyclability to divert waste from landfill and help the round financial system.

One other problem is discovering protecting supplies that may meet our international provide chain calls for and are regionally accessible. Thrilling materials improvements resembling mushroom foam or bio-based plastics usually spark curiosity, however continuity in sourcing and provide may be troublesome. It’s additionally difficult to make sure that correct restoration infrastructure for these new supplies is offered within the markets the place we promote our merchandise. These sorts of fabric improvements are sometimes higher suited to different product varieties, resembling meals or client packaged items.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-476273" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Corrugator-Factory-Guad.jpg" alt="Three women standing in a factory setting." width="500" height="387" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Corrugator-Factory-Guad-300x232.jpg 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Corrugator-Factory-Guad-1024x792.jpg 1024w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Corrugator-Factory-Guad-768x594.jpg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Corrugator-Factory-Guad-1536x1188.jpg 1536w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Corrugator-Factory-Guad.jpg 1758w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"/> With Packaging Engineering colleagues standing subsequent to liner paper rolls at a corrugating manufacturing unit. At Cisco, we design our packaging to be separable and recyclable. Most of our packaging is fiber-based corrugated board which meets these necessities. Nevertheless, we can not management which bin our clients will use for packaging waste disposal. Recycling infrastructure varies drastically from city to city, each within the US and globally. This fragmentation poses the following problem: methods to educate our clients on the easiest way to handle packaging waste. We would like clients to make knowledgeable choices about disposal after receiving our merchandise. To handle this, we have now begun to launch merchandise with easy however informative messaging to assist them perceive what to do with their packaging waste.

What future traits do you see in packaging sustainability? <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-476277" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Antelope-Canyon.jpg" alt="A family of four enjoying some red rock formations." width="247" height="330" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Antelope-Canyon-225x300.jpg 225w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/pyunFw32-Antelope-Canyon-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Antelope-Canyon-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/Antelope-Canyon.jpg 1512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px"/> Nicole enjoys touring in nature together with her household. Nicole: A efficiently scaled round financial system requires collaboration between the enterprise sector, customers, and authorities. Amongst them, every entity has a significant position to play in driving sustainability. We’ve noticed corporations striving to supply extra sustainable options. Customers are more and more searching for extra sustainable choices, evidenced by their buying decisions. Now, we're seeing a surge of collaboration among the many three entities.

As a company, we're conscious that governments and the personal sector are prioritizing circularity, and we acknowledge that this has an affect on our clients. That is an thrilling time as a result of we're partaking with our clients on packaging sustainability greater than ever earlier than. They're keen to grasp our packaging roadmap, and we're equally concerned with theirs. There’s a robust willingness to share, perceive, and collaborate, making it an exhilarating time.