Environmental Programs Win Kudos

Customers have long valued HP for its ceaseless product innovation and leading-edge technologies – both deep sources of employee pride as well. What customers and the public are also beginning to realize is that HP is setting the bar just as high in its environmental performance.

Dating back to the commitment of founders Dave Packard and William Hewlett to manage the company “first and foremost to make a contribution to society,” HP’s attention to its environmental impacts reflects a core company value – one long understood by employees. At HP, consideration for corporate environmental responsibility starts at product planning and design, extends into manufacturing processes and continues through to the end of the product lifecycle.

In an era when electronic waste – computers, TVs, cell phones and such – has become one of the world’s fastest-growing waste streams (although a comparatively small one at just 3% of all waste), HP’s approach is winning accolades from those concerned about the environment. This spring for example, the Recycling Council of British Columbia (RCBC) added to HP’s growing list of environmental awards by presenting the company with its Private Sector Recognition Award for ongoing commitment to the ideals of responsible environmental stewardship. The award recognizes HP’s efforts in demonstrating environmental innovation, protection and leadership; promoting public awareness; exhibiting environmental practices and consistently demonstrating the 3Rs. Over the past year, HP has been similarly distinguished by the recycling councils of Ontario and Alberta.

“The RCBC award is gratifying recognition for our work in this area,” says Frances Edmonds, HP Director, Environmental Programs. “Awards like this help us do more by strengthening our reputation and influence as an industry leader in corporate environmental responsibility.”

HP’s new Rechargeable Battery Recycling Program added to our Planet Partners recycling programs is the most recent example of initiatives that have organizations like RCBC applauding HP’s efforts. The program was launched July 1, 2006 to give customers a free take-back and recycling service for rechargeable batteries, which are used in some HP products, such as notebooks, handheld devices and certain cameras and printers. To make the process easy and convenient for customers, HP partnered with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) to provide over 32,000 retail drop off locations across the U.S. and Canada. Canadian locations, which can be easily found on the HP and RBRC websites, include major outlets with extensive store networks like Zellers and Canadian Tire.

This program complements existing HP Planet Partners recycling services for computer hardware and ink- and laser-jet cartridge recycling. It’s another example of HP’s willingness to step up to its responsibilities for its products throughout their lifecycle.

Beyond setting and ensuring a high standard in its own practices and those of its extensive supplier network, HP also invests in programs that raise public awareness of Canadian environmental issues. By supporting events like Waste Reduction Week and sponsoring a dedicated Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility at the Schulich School of Business at Toronto’s York University, HP advances its objective of leaving the communities in which we do business better for our presence.

This year HP continued its four-year tradition of support for the Canadian Environmental Awards by sponsoring the program’s Citation of Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s award was presented to Inuit rights and environment activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier by Marty Loken Western Region Manager, Imaging and Printing at a ceremony held in Vancouver this June. Watt-Cloutier was recognized for her efforts in advocating for the rights of the Inuit to have their way of life protected from the environmental devastation caused by toxic pollutants and climate change.

Hosted by broadcast journalist Vicki Gabereau and Radio Canada journalist Robert Groulx, the high-profile ceremonies feted some of Canada’s top environmental leaders for their outstanding contributions to the protection, restoration and preservation of the Canadian environment.

“This is our opportunity to give something back to the environmental community,” says Edmonds. “We’re particularly proud to be able to honour individuals for their environmental contributions over a lifetime. Recognizing lifetime achievement is consistent with HP’s belief in dedicating itself over the long haul for the benefit of our communities.”

Learn more about HP Canada’s environmental programs at www.hp.com/recycle.

Original full press release