Tellabs Blog

Like most of us, Tellabs wants to help protect the environment. It's a no-brainer; good business decisions are also often green.

Many of our environmental practices help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and shrink our carbon footprint. Here are a few ways Tellabs is making tracks with a smaller footprint:

1. Design our products for the environment. We work with the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) to set industry standards on how to measure energy-efficiency. Tellabs is adopting these new standards for our products. Energy-efficient products help our customers save energy and money.
2. Evaluate our GHG emissions. To help measure our carbon footprint, Tellabs completes the Carbon Disclosure Project survey. In 2007 (our first response) our CO₂ emissions totaled 33,735 metric tons from about 75% of our facilities*. In 2008 we expanded our scope to include 100% of our facilities,* which emitted 34,635 metric tons. We will continue to report and work towards reducing our CO₂ emissions.
3. Take products back. We comply with Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directives and offer to take back equipment at the end of their lifecycles. As a result, we recycled, reused or properly disposed of more than 100 tons (90.7 metric tons) of material in 2008.
4. Limit hazardous substances. Tellabs complies with the Restriction on Use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives. We continue to test the reliability of lead-free products.
5. Expect responsibility in our supply chain. Tellabs strives to align our business with the Electronic Industries Citizenship Coalition (EICC) code of conduct. We encourage suppliers to be environmentally responsible.
6. Reduce. Many offices use sensors to control lighting and temperature – reducing our energy use. We use water-saving faucets and facilities. Cafeterias provide reusable plates, glasses and silverware. Tellabs Finland achieved Green Office certification from the World Wildlife Fund for minimizing waste.
7. Recycle. Most of our locations recycle paper, glass, plastic, toner cartridges, mobile phones, computers, packaging and other items. Tellabs Naperville hosted a 2009 Earth Day event that recycled 9,775 pounds (4,434 kilograms) of e-waste.
8. Look for other green opportunities. For example, our global headquarters opened in 2001 with an environmentally friendly landscape design. It features natural areas, significantly reduces storm water runoff, and requires little to no maintenance.