Lenovo AMD Laptops & Sustainability

Sustainability is a big topic nowadays, with people around the world thinking more deeply about how the things we do today—including the products we buy—can change the future of the planet. There’s sharper focus, especially among students, on living our lives and consuming resources in ways that won’t compromise the environment for coming generations.

This focus on sustainability extends to the world of computing, which, like most technologies, has traditionally relied on generated electricity for power, rare minerals for batteries, refined ores for structural components, and so on. Not to mention the work of manufacturing new PCs and tech tools, wrapping them in secure packaging, and delivering it all to customers around the world.

At Lenovo, we’re proud of our commitment to environmental sustainability. We’ve publicly pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, among other aggressive goals. To get there, our approach is science-based—designed for accountability. And it’s collaborative, as we work with valued partners such as AMD—the focus of this article—to create PCs that will unleash tomorrow’s innovation while preserving the natural world.

Keep reading to learn more about Lenovo’s approach to sustainability and how it’s revealed in our latest products, including systems powered by AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series and AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series processors. They’re a great choice for students, like those of you shopping for a new laptop for college.

Eco-Friendly Lenovo AMD Laptops for Students

You probably already know about laptops with AMD processors. They’re known for power and affordability, so they’re an exceptional tool for students taking online courses, even in complex STEM topics. and for teachers making lesson plans or leading classroom discussions. Fast, efficient, and highly reliable, AMD-powered laptops from Lenovo are a clear leader in education.

And from a sustainability perspective, what’s being done behind the scenes might be even more refreshing. Lenovo has always put consistent focus on building top-quality PCs with the least environmental impact possible. Our eco-friendly laptops are a big part of this mission:

• Offering highly energy-efficient CPUs like those from AMD
• Using recycled materials to keep more refuse out of landfills
• Limiting facility-related carbon emissions to reduce demand for fossil fuels
• Adopting strategies to use 100% recycled packaging (a focus since 2008)
• Experimenting with new materials from sources like bamboo or sugarcane

We also try to partner with companies that follow similar strategies to reduce their impact on the planet while still driving quality and innovation. In this sense, sustainability is a bottom-up process that starts early, with product designers, tech innovators and others. One non-laptop example: Lenovo Neptune™ Liquid Cooling Technology, which is available on AMD-powered server products such as the ThinkSystem SD665 V3 Supercomputing Server.

AMD-Powered Lenovo Yoga Laptops for Sustainability

Known as some of the best laptops for high school and college students, Lenovo Yoga laptops are amazingly eco-friendly, too. Multiple Yoga models with AMD processors are Carbon Neutral Certified and are included in our CO2 OffSet Service, where you can make CO2 offset credits part of your initial purchase, based on pre-determined estimates of the carbon “cost” of each model.

Sustainable Lenovo Yoga laptops feature plastic-free packaging and recycled materials, including FSC-certified paper boxes. The top cover on some Yoga models is made from 100% recycled aluminum, and all Yoga laptops feature a bottom cover that’s at least 50% recycled aluminum.

And with AMD-powered Yoga laptops, you all the speed, performance, and functionality you need:

• AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series Processors: For high core counts, fast frame rates, low latency and advanced power efficiency with local AI processing capabilities, look for laptops with AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series Processors, featuring AMD xDNA™ 2 architecture.
• AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series Processors: Built using AMD’s incredible 4nm, “Zen 4” processor architecture, AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series Processors deliver immersive game visuals and smooth streaming with optimal energy efficiency.

Yoga student laptops with AMD processors are a great choice for all kinds of learners, from creative individuals who prefer the flexibility of a 2-in-1 design to those studying advanced topics like robotics, where advanced laptop features and processing power are most important. And not only are they energy-efficient and eco-friendly, they’re highly durable, too—designed to endure all that today’s students will put them through.

Sustainably-Built Lenovo X Series Laptops with AMD Processors

Innovation and sustainability go hand-in-hand at Lenovo. Our highly portable X Series laptops, available with powerful AMD Ryzen™ processors, are designed not only to enhance productivity but minimize environmental impact, too. It’s part of our commitment to a greener planet—one we know we share with our customers, including students and their parents.

X Series laptops are built with eco-friendly materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. They feature energy-efficient processors and other components, and they’re built for longevity, with a focus on delivering both exceptional performance and eco-friendly construction. Compared to earlier models, the latest X Series laptops maximize use of sustainable materials like recycled aluminum and post-consumer plastics. It’s a great way to reduce the devices’ environmental footprint without compromising on the quality or durability that student users require.

Lenovo also focuses on using eco-friendly packaging. Every X Series laptop comes in packaging made with biodegradable materials and recycled cardboard, helping extend our environmental commitment further into the product lifecycle. So not only do student laptop buyers get a high-performance portable PC, they’re choosing a brand that puts demonstrated priority on sustainability.

Plus, powerful X1 Series and X9 Series laptops from Lenovo are available with highly popular AMD Ryzen™ mobile processors, including:

• AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series Mobile Processors: The company’s latest laptop processors (at the time this article was written), AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series chips compute more of your artificial intelligence (AI) workloads directly on your PC versus sending them to a central server. So your AI-based work goes faster, and your data stays more private. Plus, each AI 300 Series processor includes integrated Radeon™ 800M graphics.
• AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series Mobile Processors: Another popular choice for student buyers are systems with AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series laptop processors. These chips, which preceded the AI 300 Series, also process many AI workloads locally. And with integrated Radeon™ 700M graphics, they mark a big step up from even the impressive AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series chip family that came before.

Additional energy-saving features further enhance the sustainability of X Series laptops, delivering high performance while reducing power consumption. Adaptive brightness and similar features work together to conserve energy without sacrificing productivity and help strike a balance between power and eco-friendliness.

Lenovo and Sustainability

As you look for a new laptop for school—whether you’re shopping for yourself or your child—Lenovo wants to be sure you’re aware of our commitment to sustainability and how it’s shown in each and every laptop we sell. In January 2023, for example, we vowed our company will reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We take pride in how we continually assess and adjust our strategies for reducing environmental impacts. And we look to partner with companies, like AMD, who have similar goals.

• Packaging practices

  One of the most impactful ways that Lenovo supports sustainable technology practices has been in updating and modernizing our packaging methods. The goal is to reduce the size of packages (to minimize the volume of material that gets thrown away) while also using materials that will break down rapidly once they get to the landfill.

  To achieve these goals, we’ve adopted a wide range of innovative strategies—in many cases, they’re industry-leading, or even industry-changing. Here’s a brief look at some notable ways we’re transforming our packaging (while still ensuring your tech products arrive safely):

  • Plastic-free shipping: Lenovo is using sugar cane fiber, self-locking boxes, and other methods to get nearer to plastic-free packaging. At the time of writing, we’ve eliminated 548 metric tons of plastic in packaging materials.
  • Bamboo fiber: Bamboo fiber is strong, lightweight and 100% renewable. We began using it in 2012 and expanded it to the flagship ThinkPad series in 2023, where 100% renewable bamboo fiber has reduced box weight by 30%.
  • Ocean-bound plastic: Keeping plastic out of the ocean is a global goal, so we’re seeking to package products using 30% ocean-bound plastic (that is, it would be ocean-bound if we didn’t use it). This could re-use up to 165 metric tons of plastic each year.
  • Packaging rules for suppliers: When we partner with other companies, we require that all corrugated container packages be made with 70% post-consumer fiber content and follow Forest Stewardship Council standards for any use of virgin fibers.
  • Bulk packaging: Our company always strives to use reusable bulk packages to transport materials to manufacturing locations.
• Supply chain efforts

  Lenovo’s focus on sustainability extends beyond product components and packaging. They reach into broader aspects of how we do business, including the creation of strong environmental and social management and governance strategies that apply across our supply chain. We accept only high-quality materials and parts and hold suppliers like AMD and others responsible for delivering it all with the least possible impact on the environment. That's no simple process, but one we’ve worked hard to build.

  We expect our suppliers to apply new and scientifically-backed strategies that reduce their operations’ impact on the environment, no matter what those operations are. There’s a direct pay-off to customers, too, in numerous ways:

  • 98% of what we procure comes from 130 large suppliers that we’ve confirmed have robust sustainability programs
  • 93% of our suppliers issue formal public sustainability reports
  • 95% of our suppliers are independently audited and included in our direct validation efforts

If you’ve read this far, you now know that at Lenovo, the phrase “sustainable laptops for students” isn’t just a marketing statement. It proudly declares a company-wide effort to enable students—our future leaders—to learn and work in ways that protect and preserve the natural world around us.

Conclusion

We’ve mentioned our Yoga laptops and X Series laptops, but the Lenovo focus on sustainability extends all across our product line-up. Check out these additional Lenovo laptop series for more AMD-powered systems built with the natural sustainability in mind:

• IdeaPad: Stylish, lightweight IdeaPad laptops offer advanced processing and user-friendly features. Their sharp colors and smooth edges fit anywhere, from the board room to the family room.
• Legion: Since their debut, Lenovo Legion gaming laptops have been a favorite of advanced PC gamers around the world. High-end processors, extreme lighting effects, and more – Legion offers it all.
• Mobile workstations: Looking for extreme power and performance in a mobile PC? Lenovo mobile workstations – outfitted with the CPUs, displays and other components – are ready for virtually any task.

Students equipped with a powerful, sustainably-built and packaged laptop can drive their advanced education while minimizing their PC’s impact on the world environment. And when the laptop is from Lenovo, and powered by AMD processing, you’ll get cutting-edge technology, too.

Plus, energy-efficient AMD processors help you reduce energy consumption in an ongoing way. With Lenovo and AMD, your sustainability efforts extend beyond the initial purchase into your everyday use of your new laptop.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. "Zen," "Zen 2," "Zen 3," "Zen 4" and "Zen 5" are codenames for AMD architectures and are not product names. (GD-122)

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Ryzen, Radeon, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.