How Is Lenovo Leading the Way in Circular Tech & ESG Impact?

Lenovo’s FY2025 ESG Report highlights the company’s expansive efforts to advance sustainability, equity and responsible innovation. 

From designing products for reuse and repair to scaling renewable energy and driving global inclusion, Lenovo is integrating circular economy principles across its global operations and supply chain. 

This year’s achievements mark a significant leap in environmental and social impact, with industry-leading recognition to match.

Scaling circularity through product stewardship

Central to Lenovo’s sustainability strategy is its commitment to the circular economy. 

The company continues to expand its use of closed-loop post-consumer recycled content plastics across notebooks, desktops, tablets and accessories. 

By 2026, Lenovo aims for 100% of its PC products to contain post-consumer recycled content. 

It is also scaling the use of ocean-bound plastics and recycled metals, including aluminium, copper and rare earth elements, to reduce reliance on virgin resources and support sustainable material cycles.

To extend product lifecycles, Lenovo has deepened its investment in product repairability and reuse. 

The company provides extensive repair resources including step-by-step guides, service manuals and spare parts through its self-repair programme and partnerships such as its ongoing collaboration with iFixit. 

Additionally, Lenovo’s Product End-of-Life Management programme ensures responsible processing of returned and obsolete equipment, focusing on reuse and materials recovery while prohibiting landfill disposal and non-OECD waste shipment.

Recognition for ESG excellence

Lenovo’s approach to transparent, verifiable ESG performance has garnered global accolades. 

In FY2025, the company was awarded a Platinum rating from EcoVadis, placed #8 in Gartner’s 2025 Global Supply Chain Top 25 with a 9/10 ESG score and secured a AAA rating from MSCI ESG Ratings. 

It also won the Gold Award for Best Corporate Governance and ESG from the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), highlighting its commitment to both sustainability and ethical business practices.

These achievements build on Lenovo’s climate leadership, which includes its validated Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) net-zero goal. 

“In 2023, after having our net-zero emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, Lenovo shared its Climate Transition Plan,” comments Laura Quatela, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & Corporate Responsibility Officer, in the report.

“This plan continues to guide our work to measure and manage emissions across our global enterprise. 

“Our close planning and oversight have kept us on-track for our near-term 2030 emissions reduction targets.”

The company is on track to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50%, Scope 3 product-use emissions by 35% and upstream supply chain emissions by more than 66% by 2030.

By 2050, Lenovo aims to achieve a 90% absolute reduction across all scopes and neutralise the remainder through carbon removals.

Global social impact and inclusion

Lenovo’s social responsibility extends across its global footprint. 

In FY2024, the company increased the reach of its community volunteer programme, Love on Month of Service, by 44%, delivering record participation among employees worldwide. 

It is also on track to positively impact more than 15 million lives through its philanthropic strategy by 2025.

In terms of workplace inclusion, Lenovo was again named a Best Workplace for People with Disabilities by Disability:IN in the United States and expanded this recognition to the UK and Brazil. 

Internally, the company offers leadership programmes, reverse mentoring and inclusive hiring initiatives, including targeted internships and early-career pathways for underrepresented groups.

“As a global company, navigating dynamic geopolitics is part of how we do business across 180 markets,” says Calvin J Crosslin, Vice President, Chief Inclusion Officer and President of Lenovo Foundation, in the report.

“Perspectives around diversity initiatives are evolving across the markets we serve, especially in the US. 

“It has become an important moment to listen and adjust in order to ensure that we collectively reinforce inclusion in all of our work. 

“Inclusion has always been at the core of what we do, and to exclude anyone on the basis of race, gender, background or any other factor would be counter to the mission I know my peers and I have been committed to for years.”

Governance and responsible innovation

In the realm of governance, Lenovo has advanced its Smarter AI for All vision by implementing a robust internal AI governance policy. 

This policy aligns with international commitments, including those from the European Commission, UNESCO and the Government of Canada, and covers ethical use, data privacy and algorithmic fairness. 

“As our business focuses on enabling smarter AI for all, we continue to govern our use and application of AI across our business,” says Yuanqing Yang, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo Group Limited, in the report.

“Building on the creation of the Responsible AI Committee in 2022, in 2024 we implemented a company-wide policy governing the use of AI in our workforce and our technology. 

“The policy covers ethical, legal, safety and privacy concerns related to AI and aligns to additional external commitments we have signed on to this year including European Commission’s AI Pact, Government of Canada’s Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems and UNESCO’s Commitment for Responsible AI.” 

The company also formalised the dual role of Chief Security and AI Officer to ensure oversight of AI across all technology and business functions.

Lenovo is also deepening its collaboration with suppliers and channel partners through programmes like the Lenovo 360 Circle and its Supply Chain Emissions Reduction Programme. 

These initiatives aim to support suppliers in disclosing emissions, setting SBTi-aligned targets and adopting renewable energy.

A future for net zero and circularity

Looking forward, Lenovo remains focused on credible, science-based sustainability outcomes. 

Its strategic roadmap is rooted in product innovation, digital transparency and cross-sector partnerships. 

With regulatory preparedness for standards like CSRD and progress across all ESG pillars, Lenovo is building momentum for long-term net-zero targets while contributing to a more inclusive, circular and sustainable global economy.

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