HP and the Environment
From Lauraibm
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Contents |
Summary
What the Vendor says about itself
HP's commitment to environmentally sustainable development
HP is committed to being an industry leader in global citizenship by working to create a sustainable future for all. For HP, sustainability means integrating long term economic, environmental and social dimensions into the way we operate our business. Our environmental commitment is to reduce the environmental impact of our products, services and operations, thereby enabling both HP and our customers to operate more sustainably.
Designing for the environment
HP developed its Design for Environment (DfE) program over 10 years ago with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of products and services. In addition to meeting safety and regulatory requirements, our objective is to design products that use fewer materials, are more energy efficient, and are easier to recycle, while maximizing overall value for our customers.
A robust network of product stewards implements our DfE program in each of our businesses and geographies. Product stewards work with product designers, R&D teams and customers to identify, prioritize, and recommend environmental design innovations.
Driving environmental performance of global operations
HP was one of the first global businesses to implement a comprehensive environmental management system (EMS). HP’s EMS drives performance in all facets of our operations. We created systems and various audit processes to ensure that our facilities and operations incorporate waste minimization, energy conservation and recycling programs. Our EMS programs enabled HP to be one of the first global businesses to achieve company-wide ISO 14001 certification of our worldwide manufacturing operations.
Delivering climate change and energy solutions
HP recognizes that global issues such as climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, energy conservation and the impacts of the Kyoto Protocol are concerns shared by many of our key stakeholders. We believe companies, countries, governments, and people around the world need to work together to effectively address global climate change. While many debate these issues, HP is actively working to reduce greenhouse gases, improve the energy efficiency of our products and operations, and influence employee behaviors to reduce the environmental impact of internal operations.
'Recycling solutions for products and printing supplies'
Electronic waste, or “E-waste,” is a growing environmental concern. Worldwide regulatory trends highlight the need for companies to consider the impacts of their products at the end of their useful lives. Our vision at HP is to offer recycling services wherever we sell our products worldwide.
We currently provide a convenient way to recycle used IT hardware products from any manufacturer in an environmentally sound manner. HP has established strategic partnerships with leading recycling companies around the world. As part of HP’s environmental commitment, we have requirements in place that ensure e-waste received for processing by HP at our facilities is managed responsibly.
Over a decade ago, HP was a pioneer in developing a convenient and free method for customers to recycle LaserJet supplies. Today, this recycling program has expanded to include inkjet supplies, and is now available in each region throughout the world. Tens of millions of HP LaserJet and inkjet print cartridges have been recycled, and thousands of tons of materials have been diverted from landfills.
Partnering with suppliers for social and environmental performance
We recognize the importance of working with our suppliers to optimize social and environmental performance. In accordance with HP’s commitment to global citizenship, HP sets clear expectations for our product and material suppliers. These suppliers must meet HP requirements regarding environmental, occupational health and safety, labor, and human rights issues. Working together with suppliers, HP is building the systems, processes and structures to minimize the social and environmental impact of our design, manufacturing and operational practices.
Future directions
As a leader in corporate citizenship, HP is committed to proactively addressing global environmental challenges. We will continue to build partnerships with key stakeholders and communities; develop innovative technologies and business solutions; and balance the interests of our corporation with the needs of the environment.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Policy
Hewlett-Packard is committed to conducting its business in a manner that delivers leading Environmental, Health and Safety performance. This is consistent with our commitment to corporate citizenship, social responsibility and sustainability.
Our goals are to provide products and services that are safe and environmentally sound throughout their lifecycles, conduct our operations in an environmentally responsible manner, and create health and safety practices and work environments that enable HP employees to work injury-free.
To accomplish this, we will:
- Meet or exceed all applicable legal requirements
- Aggressively pursue pollution prevention, energy conservation and waste reduction in our operations
- Design and manufacture our products to be safe to use and to minimize their environmental impact
- Offer our customers environmentally responsible end-of-life management services for HP products
- Require our suppliers to conduct their operations in a socially and environmentally responsible manner
We achieve this high level of performance by integrating these objectives into our business planning, decision-making, performance tracking and review processes to ensure we achieve our goals and continually improve upon them.
Each employee has an individual responsibility to understand and support our environmental, health and safety policies and to actively participate in programs to ensure our goals are achieved.
We believe our company must work with employees, suppliers, partners, customers, and governmental, nongovernmental and community organizations to protect and enhance health, safety and the environment. We foster open dialogue with our stakeholders to share relevant information, and contribute to the development of sound public policy and business initiatives.
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Product Return and Recycling
HP offers our customers several choices to manage aging or unwanted computers while also minimizing the impact on the environment.
Trade in Return for cash HP Trade-In offers users the opportunity to capture the fair market value of aging technology and upgrade to new HP technology.
Return for Cash HP Financial Services will pay your company for qualified computer equipment you no longer want or need.
Recycle HP makes it easy to recycle unwanted computer hardware and printing supplies responsibly.
Donate HP makes it easy to donate your used computer equipment. In the US, this program is made possible through a partnership with the National Cristina Foundation (NCF).
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Product Design
HP's greatest environmental impact is through customer use of our products and services. Our goal is to improve customers' lives and work by providing simple, valuable and trusted experiences with technology. We integrate environmental considerations into our business strategy because this results in better products.
Customers increasingly value environmental aspects of products, such as energy efficiency and provisions for reuse and recycling, two of HP's global citizenship priorities (discussed in detail in those sections). We differentiate our products by integrating such features to deliver lower total cost of ownership and improved user experience.
Since 1992, we have focused on specific environmental issues – through our Design for Environment program. For example, HP introduces new materials to meet customer expectations, to capitalize on emerging technologies and to substitute for materials of concern.
In packaging, we minimize materials, utilize recycled and recyclable materials when possible, and reduce packaging size and weight to improve transportation fuel efficiency.
As a global company with customers worldwide, product transport also offers opportunities to improve our environmental impact. Through logistics initiatives such as more efficient transport planning and alternative pallets, we reduce the energy needed to move each product.
We also work to ensure that as many people as possible can use our products and information, by integrating accessibility into product and website design.
Design for the Environment
As one of the world’s largest consumer IT companies, a leading IT supplier to small and medium-size businesses and a leader in enterprise computing, HP’s largest impact on the environment is through its products.
The environmental performance of products is largely determined at the design stage. Through intelligent design we can reduce the environmental impact of our products, and that of our customers.
To accomplish this objective, HP established its Design for Environment (DfE) program in 1992.
Design-for-Environment (DfE) is an engineering perspective in which the environmentally related characteristics of a product, process or facility are optimized. Together, HP's product stewards and product designers identify, prioritize and recommend environmental improvements through a company-wide DfE program. HP's DfE guidelines derive from evolving customer expectations and regulatory requirements, but they are also influenced by the personal commitment of its employees.
The Design for Environment program has three priorities:
- Energy efficiency – reduce the energy needed to manufacture and use our products
- Materials innovation – reduce the amount of materials used in our products and develop materials that have less environmental impact and more value at end-of-life
- Design for recyclability – design equipment that is easier to upgrade and/or recycle
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