MSI is taking steps in order to eliminate unnecessary paper from its motherboard product lines. It’s a small, but welcome gesture, where every little bit helps to reduce the impact of the tech industry on the environment. It will no longer include flyers, manuals, and catalogs in its retail boxes.
MSI is committed in mitigating the environmental effects of its business activities through green production, supply chain management. We have made active investments to reduce energy consumption, reduce waste and control chemical substances in response to climate risk. According to a statement from MSI’s website.
It would be a little cynical to note that this move will save MSI some money, and it makes for a bit of positive PR as well, but let’s face it, the world we live in is struggling, and small steps like these can all add up to make a meaningful difference.
MSI is referring to its motherboard products for now. It does not mention whether other divisions might follow. MSI boasts a broad product range, including high-end monitors and luxury cooling products, all of which include the same types of paper-based extras. Surely it’s only a matter of time before other products in MSI’s range follow suit. Maybe this will inspire others in the industry.
I certainly won’t miss things like the manual, especially when 90% of it is made up of different languages which means it’s more like a book. These days most DIY builders download updated drivers and software from the web (and if you don’t, you should). The product manual is easily available in different languages online right alongside drivers or software so it’s not like the paper material is suddenly inaccessible.
Usually, the only things I would refer back to in the manual are things such as the front panel pin arrangement and possibly the M.2 slot arrangement and PCIe lane configuration. These details can be viewed online for each model.
The MSI gesture is small in the grand scheme. The big industry has a lot of work ahead of them, but the world would be a better place if everyone tried to recycle or reduce their environmental impact.