As part of its commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility, technology company HP recently published its Sustainable Impact Report that outlines its focus areas — including driving climate action, accelerating digital equity and philanthropy, and human rights. Stainable packaging also forms a major part of the company’s initiatives.
The company has been widely recognized for its sustainability initiatives. In 2022, HP was rated among the top 1% of companies for social and environmental efforts for the 13th time in a row by Ecovaldis. It was also named in the list of world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere for fourth year in a row, among other recognitions.
Gurpreet Singh Brar, vice president, HP India shares, “Our vision is to become the world’s most sustainable and just technology company, and we have set ambitious goals to guide our efforts.” These goals include reducing HP’s value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.
Our aim is to promote digital inclusion and empower individuals to thrive in the digital economy, he said. “By 2030, we aspire to reach 150 million people through our efforts to bridge the digital divide. Our Sustainable Impact Report serves as a transparent account of our progress and challenges in the pursuit of sustainability.”
HP’s sustainable packaging initiatives
Sustainable packaging plays a critical role in HP’s commitment to environmental stewardship. “By embracing sustainable packaging practices, we contribute to the well-being of the planet in several ways. Firstly, it helps minimize waste by utilizing recyclable and compostable materials, reducing the amount of packaging that ends up in landfills. This reduces the environmental impact of waste disposal and promotes a circular economy where materials are reused or recycled. Secondly, sustainable packaging reduces carbon emissions by utilizing materials that have a lower carbon footprint, such as recycled content or renewable materials. By choosing sustainable packaging, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change,” Brar shared.
HP’s sustainable packaging initiatives extend to a wide range of HP products, including printers, laptops, notebooks, displays, home and office print, and supplies.
Brar further went on to say, “We are deeply committed to sustainable packaging initiatives as part of our broader sustainability efforts. We recognize that packaging plays a crucial role in minimizing waste and environmental impact.”
HP’s packaging strategy focuses on three key areas – eliminating unnecessary packaging material, space, and hard-to-recycle materials such as plastic foam; innovating packaging designs to use materials with lower environmental impact, such as sustainable fiber and recycled plastics; and prioritizing high recycled content and easily recyclable materials that can circulate through the economy.
In 2022, globally HP completed over 20 packaging innovation projects aimed at reducing its environmental impact, Brar told Packaging South Asia. “We shipped almost 70 million units of personal systems products in molded fiber or hybrid foam/fiber packaging, representing about 91% of units shipped during the year and 7% more than in 2021.”
Another notable accomplishment was HP’s transition to molded fiber packaging for its Smart Tank 210 series all-in-one/wireless inkjet printers, resulting in the elimination of 222.6 tons of expanded polystyrene. “By focusing on eliminating single-use plastic packaging, incorporating recycled materials, and exploring innovative solutions, we are actively working towards our goal of eliminating 75% of single-use plastic packaging by 2025,” he added.
HP recently made an acquisition, bringing on board Choose Packaging, a leading packaging development company known for its innovative zero-plastic paper bottle technology, Brar shared. This patented technology offers a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic bottles by utilizing naturally occurring and non-toxic materials.
The company works closely with partner organizations and suppliers to ensure that the materials it uses align with its sustainability goals and contribute to a circular economy. “One of our key initiatives is engaging through the HP Sustainable Forests Collaborative, where we collaborate with organizations like WWF’s Forests Forward and the Forest Stewardship Council. These partnerships help us ensure that the fiber we use in our packaging comes from responsibly managed forests, promoting forest conservation and protection,” Brar concluded.
This article is from the upcoming August 2023 issue of Packaging South Asia
