Sustainable Solutions
We are advancing the circular economy and accelerating a low-carbon future.
Our world’s linear “take-make-waste" economic model is unsustainable for our growing population. We need to move toward a circular economic model, in which we design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems so our planet can stay healthy and sustain a thriving economy.
Additionally, If the world is to achieve its climate goals, the decarbonization of society must speed up. Circular design of our products helps reduce their resource consumption and carbon footprint. And through test and measurement, our products are helping accelerate innovations the world needs to address the climate crisis.
Our goal: Each year through 2030, we will make circular design improvements in our product design, manufacturing, and packaging.
Circular Product Design
We see circular design as an exciting opportunity to Engineer Ambitiously and reduce our environmental footprint and help our customers do so as well. Our products’ modular design and long lifecycle have already reduced waste.
In 2021, we completed a lifecycle analysis of our PXI systems to measure their environmental impact during design, manufacturing, customer use, and end of life. We discovered that the power consumed by these systems is by far the biggest driver of their total carbon footprint. In 2022, we created and staffed a research and development initiative to improve our products’ power reporting and efficiency. This will support our climate neutrality ambitions of addressing Scope 3 emissions throughout our value chain.
Additionally, we continue to evaluate opportunities for using more sustainable and recyclable materials in our products. We have a global product takeback program.
Circular Packaging Design
Packaging’s shorter lifecycles make it an ideal target for improved design by using recycled content and recyclable materials while reducing the amount of materials needed to safely cushion our shipments. Our key focus area is replacing polyethylene and polyurethane foam cushioning with more sustainable alternatives, targeting NI’s highest volume shipments first.
In 2022, we implemented 100% reclaimed/recyclable 4/6 slot chassis cushioning system that replaces non-recyclable polyurethane cushions.
We also designed a packaging solution that will protect shipments of PXI-e boards, our second-highest volume product, with Korrvu® (a recyclable elastomeric film and corrugate solution that saves space while providing excellent protection). This solution, which we’ll implement in February 2023, replaces polyethylene and polyurethane foams in approximately 50,000 shipments annually.
Spotlights on Sustainable Solutions
Ocean & Climate Innovation Accelerator
NI has joined the Ocean & Climate Innovation Accelerator, a consortium founded by Analog Devices, Inc. and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to advance knowledge of the ocean’s critical role in global health. Our grant of $1 million over four years (starting in 2023) will accelerate the development of new data collection and analysis technologies.
EV Investments
As automakers commit to decarbonization through EVs, NI invests in tools to increase test performance and accelerate time to market. Our acquisitions of Kratzer, Heinzinger EV Systems and NH Research have expanded NI’s EV battery test and drive test solutions. In 2022, we received the Battery Innovation Center’s Charged for Innovation Award.
Modular By Design
The modular architecture of our PXI and C Series systems enables customers to build measurement and automation systems that fit their needs, and then easily change modules as those needs change. This has the added benefit of reducing waste, as it eliminates the need to replace entire systems. And NI’s global takeback program enables customers to responsibly recycle their products.
