Lenovo’s ESG Report: Community Impact & Circular Technology

Chinese technology company Lenovo operates in 180 markets with a workforce of approximately 83,000 employees.

Throughout its operations, it focuses on climate action, circular economy, social impact and governance, while balancing responsible innovation in the AI era.

Climate targets

Lenovo has set targets to reduce its climate impact, which were verified by SBTi in 2020.

Its near-term target is to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, which it is on track to achieve.

It is aiming to reduce all of its greenhouse gas emissions by 90%, encompassing absolute reduction of its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, by 2050.

Lenovo aims to neutralise the remaining 10% of emissions through carbon capture, reforestation or other means.

The company continues to expand its solar generation capacity at its facilities, with approximately 36 megawatts of solar electric installations currently operational.

Dave Carroll, Chief Legal and Corporate Responsibility Officer at Lenovo, told Sustainability Magazine: “No matter how much we adapt to new laws, regulations or policies, some things remain constant: our sustainability ambitions, our inclusive culture and the strong governance that guides us.

“Balancing agility with authenticity is a challenge many global companies face, and one we continue to navigate with purpose. Our updated Code of Conduct and Responsible AI policy reinforce our commitment to integrity and respect as a global organisation as we grow and innovate responsibly.

“The completion of our first generation of ESG KPIs reflects how much we can achieve when we stay customer-centric, foster an innovative culture and act as a truly global organisation.” 

Building a circular economy

In its journey towards product sustainability, Lenovo is looking to design its products for circularity to reduce unnecessary electronic waste.

It is working on extending battery cycle life through key technologies such as the use of lithium polymer cells designed for long life, battery pack management and system software designed to extend battery longevity.

This focus on circularity extends to Lenovo’s packaging design, where it has implemented plastic-free packaging for its smaller devices.

It has been exploring the use of bamboo or sugar cane fibres in its packaging, which brings benefits such as being robust, lightweight, renewable and recyclable.

Yuanqing Yang, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo, says: “For 19 years, we have reported on our impact on people, society and the planet.

“We are proud of the progress we’ve achieved and even more, we are committed to building on what we’ve learned from the last five years. Our progress is not achieved in isolation.

“Our goals were set to support our customers and partners as we navigate geopolitical complexity, environmental challenges and the AI era.”

Lenovo’s social impact

In FY2025/26, Lenovo’s global philanthropy team met its goals to directly impact 15 million people and transform one million lives.

The company has developed strategic community partners in its business geographies, selected in alignment with Lenovo Foundation’s mission to empower underrepresented communities with access to STEM education and technology.

Lenovo also continued to work on its AI for Social Impact initiative, aligned with its focus on providing Smarter AI for All.

This initiative works on connecting non-profits with education and resources to harness AI and achieve their goals.

Dave says: “This fiscal year represents an important moment for Lenovo.

“As we near the end of our first generation of ESG goals, we are proud of the progress we’ve made – but even more focused on applying what we’ve learned to accelerate future impact.

“Our work is closely aligned with the needs of our customers and partners as we navigate environmental challenges, geopolitical complexity and the rapid evolution of AI.”