In 2020, Microsoft committed to becoming a zero‑waste company by 2030, prompting a rethink of not only what products are made from, but how they’re packaged. Many people don’t think about packaging beyond the moment they open a box. But packaging decisions ripple far beyond first impressions. Historically, plastic became the standard in packaging because it solved a lot of problems, like protecting devices from damage and moisture. But it also has contributed waste and emissions over time. Over the past several years, Microsoft Design teams have worked to change that. Starting with Microsoft Surface and expanding across devices like Xbox, we redesigned cushioning, coatings, closures, and labels—replacing plastic with sustainable materials like paper while keeping devices protected. The result: these changes reduced waste, lowered emissions, and reshaped how products move through the supply chain. Learn how removing nearly all single-use plastic changed the way we package devices: https://msft.it/6047vGbgl
Microsoft On the Issues
Technology, Information and Internet
Redmond, Washington 94,721 followers
News & perspectives on today's pressing tech issues, AI, sustainability, security and more for #Microsoft. 👇
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News and perspectives on the future of tech, public policy and philanthropic topics for #Microsoft. ➡️ https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/
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Ransomware is no longer just a cybercrime issue—it’s a public safety issue. Hospitals, emergency services, and other essential infrastructure are being disrupted in ways that directly affect people’s lives. Over the past five years, ransomware attacks have increased nearly fivefold, with these critical systems among the hardest hit. Many of these attacks originate from jurisdictions that act as “safe havens,” leaving enforcement gaps that allow malicious actors to operate with impunity. Microsoft is calling for stronger international accountability, including recognizing ransomware attacks on civilian infrastructure as potential crimes against humanity when they cause severe harm. Learn more about how global action can close the enforcement gap: https://msft.it/6049v8DTD
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How does a company like Microsoft rethink product packaging on a global scale without compromising protection, accessibility, or performance? Co‑authored by Melanie Nakagawa and Julian Duffy, this month’s Sustainably Speaking looks at how Microsoft teams are redesigning product packaging to remove single‑use plastics while still protecting devices as they move through the supply chain. What’s inside this edition: 📦 How packaging decisions get made, from materials to customer experience 🎮 Real‑world examples from our Xbox and Microsoft Surface teams 🔍 Why changing packaging isn’t simple, and where we’re focusing next 🤝 How data and AI are helping teams make better tradeoffs Read and subscribe to Sustainably Speaking to get future editions in your inbox.
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Microsoft On the Issues reposted this
What if the box mattered as much as the device inside it? For the team behind Project Alder, it does. And it led to a full rethink of packaging – a total redesign that removes nearly all single-use plastics. Engineers, designers and a whole host of partners came together (for several hundred hours) to prove that sustainability can be built into the experience, not added on at the end. Find out more about the work that’s gone into making our packaging something that really matters, for product and planet: https://lnkd.in/gTgSrv5z
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Today, Microsoft and North America's Building Trades Unions announced an expanded partnership to bring no‑cost AI training to millions of workers in the building trades. The partnership is built on a simple but powerful idea: the people building the future should also be equipped to thrive in it. The partnership builds on training that has already reached more than 1,500 instructors across 50 states and North America and expands access and opportunity through a recognized AI literacy credential through LinkedIn Learning and extends to the next generation of skilled professional in NABTU’s TradesFutures programs in 34 states. Learn more: https://msft.it/6045v8udv
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Last month, we hosted academic scholars, Microsoft experts, and labor and policy stakeholders for research-driven conversations around how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, education, and economic opportunity. One of the core discussions centered on what it takes to narrow the digital divide between the Global North and Global South. AI Economy Institute Fellows and experts Arun Sundararajan, Dr Xin (Skye) Zhao, Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Dr. Joseph Onderi ORERO, and Microsoft’s Juan M. Lavista Ferres share how access, infrastructure, and on-the-ground realities shape how people and economies experience AI around the world. To learn more about how AI adoption is taking shape globally, read our Global AI Adoption 2025 report: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eahgPtDq
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Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed SB 1227 and announced a public‑private partnership with Microsoft, Micron Technology, the Idaho National Laboratory, and others to advance AI literacy, educator training, and responsible AI use across Idaho schools. This collaboration will support clear guidance for schools, educator professional development, and thoughtful use of AI tools aligned with Idaho’s new statewide AI framework, helping move from policy to real classroom practice.
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AI can only be useful if it understands people. Around the world, we’re seeing what’s possible when AI works in the languages people actually use—not just the most widely spoken ones. At Microsoft, we’re partnering with local communities and researchers to bring more languages into AI, so technology reflects real lives. 🌍 Open language datasets across Africa, Europe, and South Asia are expanding who’s represented in AI 🩺 Frontline health workers in India can ask questions by voice or text and share clear guidance with patients 🥗 Health tools in South Africa reflect local food, culture, and daily routines, not one‑size‑fits‑all advice This is how AI becomes more practical, trustworthy, and useful in everyday decision-making. Read how language is shaping the future of inclusive AI: https://msft.it/6040QCU0j
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Technology opens doors—and Compudopt is helping youth in under-resourced communities step through them. Partnering with Microsoft TechSpark, students gain access to computers, hands-on learning, and programs that turn curiosity into opportunity. By connecting students to mentors, training, and real-world tech experiences, we're supporting the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. Explore how local communities are leading the way in tech and learning: https://msft.it/6045Q7PGf
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🚄 Light rail trains are now running across Lake Washington, connecting Seattle and the Eastside—bringing communities closer and changing how people move across the area. This milestone is the result of decades of collaboration among community advocates, labor, public leaders, and businesses committed to building infrastructure that works for everyone. Microsoft has been proud to support this shared vision and help turn it into a connection built to last. https://msft.it/6046QN4B4