Company Profiles

Cisco Systems

United States

Cisco provides communications and information technology products and services. Although Cisco's entire product range cannot be credited with providing ecological benefits, the company does recognize the business opportunities associated with addressing ecological constraints through its product offerings. Cisco's vision is of a "future where the intelligent use of networking architectures can transform society not only by boosting productivity and spurring economic growth, but also by supporting environmental sustainability." To this end, Cisco offers products such as "Connected Real Estate," which can improve energy efficiency by facilitating the design, monitoring, and control of multiple building management systems. Additionally, Cisco's collaboration technologies such as web and teleconferencing can facilitate working remotely, thereby reducing travel emissions. Internally, Cisco has created the "Carbon to Collaboration" initiative that uses its own collaboration technologies to significantly reduce its air travel and associated carbon emissions. Cisco also addresses energy and resource efficiency through its hardware design and employs a modular approach for upgradeability. For example, the company promotes the use (and upgrade) of network cards to improve or expand functionality without requiring the replacement of the whole product. Although Cisco provides trade-in options to its customers worldwide, an area for improvement for the company is to offer fully funded take-back programs in all of its major markets.

To the best of our knowledge the above information is accurate and was obtained from sources we believe to be reliable. Neither the information presented above nor any opinion expressed shall be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy the security. The views expressed are those of portfolio management as of 12/30/08 and may not reflect current opinions or subsequent events.