HP pledges to make all printed pages ‘forest positive’

HP will help customers transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient future, after pledging that every page printed using an HP printer will be “forest positive”.

HP’s new pledge will aim to ensure that pages printed using HP printers aren’t contributing to deforestation. In 2016, HP achieved 100% zero deforestation of HP-branded paper, two years ahead of schedule.

“We are redefining the power of print to create a positive, lasting change for the planet, its people and our communities. HP’s commitment to sustainability guides how we do business and drives the way our printers are designed, made and used,” HP’s Imaging and Printing business president Enrique Lores said.

“We took one step further by pledging to lead the industry in making every page you print sustainable.”

The revamped ambition will extend beyond consumer printers, which are “forest positive” to account for its entire portfolio of commercial printers. HP has not specified when this ambition will be implemented.

The company’s entire paper-based product packaging is currently on track to reach zero deforestation by 2020, while 100% of branded paper sold in North America is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Carbon neutral 

HP is also aiming to reduce carbon emissions for its customers. HP’s Managed Print Services (MPS) offerings have recorded a 33% annual reduction in carbon emissions, energy consumption and costs, the company has revealed.

Last year, HP revealed that it has diverted 170 tonnes of plastic from the oceans over a 12-month period. HP used more than 18,000 tonnes of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in its products in 2017, including 8.3 million plastic bottles sourced from Haiti and used for ink cartridges as part of its partnership with Thread International and the First Mile Coalition.

The move means that 80% of HP ink cartridges now contain 45-70% recycled content and all toner cartridges contain at least 10% recycled content. In total, more than 8.3 million “ocean-bound” plastic bottles were used for HP products in 2017.

HP’s most-recent sustainability report revealed that the firm has already hit its science-based target to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25% against a 2015 baseline. This includes reducing first-tier production supplier and production transportation emissions intensity by 10% by 2025, having reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 35% against a 2015 baseline.

HP is also part of the Climate Group’s RE100 initiative. Through 2017, HP surpassed its interim target to reach 40% renewable electricity in global operations by 2020.

Nick Lazaridis, HP Inc’s president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), recently published a blog on edie reaffirming the company’s approach to combatting climate change. Lazaridis revealed that HP had recorded a 38% increase in deals where sustainability was a requirement.

Source: edie