Dell Technologies Inc. — Ethics Grade C-

Dell Technologies Inc. receives an overall ethics grade of C- (48/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Technology. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 45
• privacy: 70
• consumer: 60
• environment: 55
• humanRights: 30

Documented incidents (3)

• Cobalt Mining Labor Abuse (high, 2019) — Dell was named in a federal class-action lawsuit for allegedly benefiting from forced child labor in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cobalt is a key component in the lithium-ion batteries used in Dell's laptops.
• Illegal E-Waste Export (medium, 2016) — An investigation used GPS trackers to discover that Dell's electronic waste recycling partners were shipping hazardous monitors to developing countries illegally. The company was criticized for failing to oversee its downstream recycling chain effectively.
• Systemic Pay Discrimination (medium, 2020) — The U.S. Department of Labor reached a settlement with Dell after findings of systemic pay discrimination against female and minority employees at several locations. The company was required to pay back wages and interest.

Documented good deeds

• Closed-Loop Plastic Recycling — Dell expanded its use of ocean-bound plastics and closed-loop recycled plastics in its Latitude and Precision product lines.

Ethical alternatives

• Framework Computer — Designed for repairability and longevity, reducing electronic waste and consumer costs.