ESG News For Cisco Systems, Inc.

September 21-27 is National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week. This blog will recognize one of the ways Cisco has collaborated and innovated with these institutions.

Tom is the Senior Director of Supply Chain, Computing Systems, & Product Packaging, and Executive Sponsor of Circular Design at Cisco. His passion for sustainability is rooted in a lifelong love of the outdoors and shaped by visits to nearly 45 U.S. national parks.

For the past ten years, Cisco has been proud to partner with the Connected Conservation Foundation (CCF), combining technology and devoted field teams to make a real difference in wildlife conservation.

Through our ever-evolving partnership, Cisco and Indus Action have helped countless vulnerable citizens transform their lives for the better by increasing their access to education, maternal health, labor welfare, and more.

Technology has the power to transform lives, bridge opportunity gaps, and strengthen communities. At Cisco, our Purpose is to Power an Inclusive Future for All, building a more inclusive digital future where education and opportunity go hand in hand.

Whether we’re purchasing grocery items wrapped in plastic or receiving a home shipment packed in polystyrene peanuts, packaging is part of our everyday lives. However, much of it becomes waste after one use.

In 2018, Cisco and Destination: Home embarked on a partnership to tackle homelessness in Santa Clara County. While our primary focus was on the development of supportive housing and homelessness prevention, we also saw an opportunity to leverage technology to improve lives.

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise for climate innovation, but its effectiveness depends on access to diverse, high-quality data — something that can be difficult and costly to obtain in the climate sector.

AI alone isn’t transformative. Real change happens when empowered people can access, trust, learn, and adopt AI technology.

Technology is not stagnant and keeping up can prove to be a challenge, especially in the education sector. But in the heart of Australia’s capital, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is setting an inspiring example of how education can evolve to meet challenges

Chances are when someone flips on a light switch or turns on a computer, they don’t think about what is generating that electricity.

At Cisco, packaging sustainability is a key aspect of our strategy to transition to a circular business modelzx. We do this by designing packaging that protects our products while also minimizing environmental impact.

Like other technology breakthroughs, AI offers enormous opportunities to reimagine solutions to the world’s pressing challenges. However, to harness AI’s power and potential effectively, we must work together to ensure it is used ethically, responsibly, and inclusively.

India’s agriculture is at a turning point, with nearly 42% of its workforce reliant on small farms (IFAD). The sector faces mounting pressure: water scarcity, rising debt, and up to 15% post-harvest losses (NABARD study).

At Cisco, we care deeply about innovation and practical effectiveness. When responding to social challenges, we want to be part of solutions that work

In 1997, the Cisco Foundation was established by a gift from Cisco Systems, Inc. to help address basic human needs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the past 27 years, that localized support has grown to a global mission across multiple areas of need.

The Ogiek community developed a land management system to document their ancestral connection to the land and ecosystems they protect. Recognizing the importance of technology in this effort, they began using CoMapeo, a landscape mapping tool developed by Awana Digital.

Data, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital tools can help uncover solutions to complex environmental challenges that can be implemented at scale for maximum impact. However, while much of the data exists, the datasets are enormous.

At Cisco, we believe in the power of technology and our people to drive meaningful change.

The following is an excerpt from our FY24 Purpose Report, celebrating 40 years of impact at Cisco. Data and metrics are reflective of Cisco’s fiscal year 2024, ending on July 31, 2024.

60% of children in Kenya can’t count on three meals a day. For children in underserved communities across Africa, education remains the surest path to a more secure future — and yet hunger inhibits learning and optimal development for a majority of the country’s young people.

After years in services and business development, Christopher Weiland charted a new path — applying his technology expertise to drive sustainability innovation at Cisco.

In 2024, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that data centers accounted for roughly 1.5 percent of global electricity demand. That number is expected to more than double by 2030, driven largely by the rise in AI infrastructure.

In every corner of the globe, digital technology is becoming the bridge to opportunity, empowerment, and transformation.

In the fast-paced evolution of data centers, the spotlight on sustainability has never been brighter. As energy demands surge, finding innovative ways to reduce energy consumption becomes crucial.

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, intense, and costly. In 2024 alone, global natural disasters resulted in an estimated $368 billion in economic losses, with 60% of these losses uninsured, highlighting a substantial protection gap (Insurance Business).

As part of Cisco’s “Plan for Possible,” our environmental sustainability strategy, I often emphasize the importance of resilient ecosystems.

In a world where cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated and high-profile data breaches make headlines, the need for cybersecurity professionals is greater than ever. Yet today, too many people lack access to the training that can launch cybersecurity careers.

Vocxi Health Wins 2025 Startup World Cup Silicon Valley Regional Competition

Cisco’s Purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All isn’t a standalone initiative – it’s embedded and operationalized throughout our company and drives growth for our business, people, and communities.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina formed over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and went on to become a Category 5 storm that would devastate the city of New Orleans.

One the one hand, tech innovation can help energy grids and power generation become more efficient and secure. On the other, the rapid adoption and development of emerging technologies is increasing power consumption.

At Cisco, sustainability is not just a once-a-year commitment – it’s a part of how we help partners in their efforts to make more sustainable, cost-effective decisions every day.

Cisco and the Cisco Foundation’s distinctive approach to supporting nonprofit organizations often begins with funding, but it rarely ends there. Our aim is always to bring the best of all that Cisco has to offer to the organizations we support

Cisco tech aids bee conservation by enhancing habitat monitoring, optimizing hive health data, and supporting research to promote thriving bee populations.

Dueck led the organization through significant period of change and growthSachs is long-time NESsT executive with more than two-decade track record of success in capital raising, impact investing, and social impact

Rhinos, elephants, gorillas, and their habitats, are among the natural treasures protected by Cisco and Connected Conservation Foundation in a 10-year partnership.

In 1991, the US established April as National Volunteer Month. Today, that scope has expanded, and it’s recognized as Global Volunteer Month. Since Cisco’s founding 40 years ago, giving back to our communities has been a part of our tradition.

At Cisco, we have been focusing on evolving from a linear economy that extracts resources and eventually wastes them, to a circular one that finds new uses for products and their inputs.

This April, Cisco’s Americas Service Provider team is proud to sponsor two-time U.S. Paralympic skier Spencer Wood at AS2025 in Vail, Colorado April 3 – 6.

Cisco Capital has been named Best Company for Financial Innovation in Monitor Daily 2025, a prestigious recognition that underscores its pioneering approach to payment solutions, sustainability initiatives, and financial flexibility for businesses worldwide. 

Today, connectivity is no longer a form of aid; instead, it’s often necessary to even receive aid. Beneficiary registration, digital cash, relief benefits, and social service applications all require secure connectivity— and Cisco helps deliver this essential need.

Picture a university where the digital landscape is as dynamic as the students it serves—where every classroom is a gateway to global learning and every network is a fortress of security.

Dakota State University is at the forefront of AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity education.

Summer camp is an annual rite for many children — and an opportunity to build social connections and a love of nature.

The following is an excerpt from our FY24 Purpose Report, celebrating 40 years of impact at Cisco.

Sustainability is an important consideration for businesses—and with good reason.

Cisco’s Fran Katsoudas on the company’s next big ambition for positive global change, and the importance of resilience for countries and communities.

From wave energy to e-waste recycling and more, Cisco Investments supports cutting-edge innovation for a more sustainable future.