A person removes an old part from a Surface laptop.

Waste

Explore our progress toward becoming zero waste.

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Getting to zero waste by 2030

We apply circular economy principles across our product lifecycles by first preventing waste and then reusing and recovering materials where possible.

Read about our circular economy framework

Long corridor of densely packed server racks in a datacenter, leading to a green door.

Our circular approach to datacenter operations

To achieve zero waste in our datacenter operations, we focus on preventing waste generation from the outset.

Learn more about how they operate

Reimagining packaging to be more sustainable

We're treating sustainability as a core design input. This approach shows up in decisions across our packaging work—from rethinking protective materials for Xbox and redesigning Surface packaging to reduce plastics.

Microsoft Chief Sustainability Officer, Melanie Nakagawa speaks with Julian Duffy, General Manager, Packaging & Content in the Microsoft Global Packaging Design Studio.

Designing for repairability and reuse

All components in our electronic devices are designed for reuse and recovery. Surface Copilot+ PCs support a circular economy, reducing waste at every stage.

Isometric 3D layout of a clean‑energy industrial site with wind turbines and solar panels.

Circular Centers

Microsoft Circular Centers advance our zero waste commitment by processing decommissioned datacenter servers and hardware and repurposing them for new uses. By embedding circularity in cloud supply chain planning, we optimize sustainable pathways for every hardware part worldwide.

Tour a Circular Center

Innovation

Learn more about how Microsoft is accelerating innovative solutions to reduce waste.

View more stories Explore our progress

Abstract helix-like sculpture combining soft layers with grass and flowers.

Recycling end-of-life hard disk drives

In partnership with Western Digital, Critical Materials Recycling, and PedalPoint Recycling, we transformed 50,000 pounds of end-of-life hard disk drives into high-value materials, recovering rare earth elements (REEs), like neodymium.

Read about how it works

Improving Xbox sustainability

We’ve expanded repairability options, updated console packaging, and are reducing plastic waste to help minimize gaming’s environmental footprint.

Read about Xbox sustainability

An Albert Heijn XL storefront in the Netherlands.

Reducing food waste with AI

We're helping people around the world use AI to empower innovative waste solutions, including reducing food waste.

Read how Azure OpenAI is being used

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