Sustainable solutions with Raspberry Pi: reducing packaging

Raspberry Pi computers come packaged in compact cardboard boxes, designed to protect the device during shipping and handling. In very early models, the computer was shipped inside a plastic antistatic bag, which was placed in a box along with a leaflet.

When we released Raspberry Pi 4, we introduced a new box which featured an antistatic coating on the inside, a measure to safeguard the sensitive electronics that also removes the need for an additional plastic antistatic bag. An antistatic card and a paper leaflet were included in the package. We moved from a hand-assembled box to a fully automated system which assembles the box from a flat cardboard net and then inserts the product before sealing it up.

Weirdly captivating

As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint, we re-evaluated the packaging for Raspberry Pi computers. Evolving regulations around product marking, with a shift towards e-labelling, presented an opportunity to streamline the contents of the box; this led us to remove the printed leaflet and antistatic card and adopt a design that prints slimmed-down regulatory information onto the inside of the packaging itself. The antistatic coating on the box provides sufficient protection for the device during shipping.

Full regulatory and compliance information about Raspberry Pi products is available through our Product Information Portal. This online resource enables customers to find the information they need and to subscribe to updates for particular products: subscribers get an email whenever we publish something new about a product, such as updated compliance information or PCNs.

These adjustments to our packaging might seem minor, but they have delivered a significant reduction in our environmental impact. We have eliminated an estimated 500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and also saved 55 tonnes of paper, every year. The results bear out Raspberry Pi’s belief that small changes, implemented thoughtfully and at scale, can lead to substantial positive outcomes.

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