HEWLETT-PACKARD
OVERVIEW
Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) is a global provider of products, technologies,
software, and services to individual consumers, small and medium-sized businesses
and large enterprises. As an industry leader, HP is relied upon by more than one
billion people around the world everyday.
HP's business goals are aligned with the company’s impact on society and the
environment. HP’s 2010 Global Citizenship report puts significant attention on both
the impact HP can make internally and also its impact on the social and
environmental sustainability of their customer’s activities. This dual commitment
extends across ethics and compliance, environmental sustainability, supply chain
responsibility, social innovation and privacy. The product lifecycle is another key
inspiration for innovation, from supply chain to disposal. HP is addressing these
issues diligently, creating innovative solutions and initiatives to combat global issues.
DOING GOOD AND DOING WELL
Social Entrepreneurship
HP aims to use its business training programs for entrepreneurs, and combine this
training with their IT expertise to enhance the entrepreneurs’ business growth. Some
of their business training programs include the HP Learning Initiative for
Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE), which is a global program created for aspiring entrepreneur
of all ages to build IT and business skills. HP is also a longtime partner of JA
Worldwide® (Junior Achievement) which support young entrepreneurs in building
business skills.1
Reducing and Recycling Waste
HP aims to reduce the energy needed to both manufacture and use their products,
reduce the amount of materials used in their products, and develop materials that have
minimal environmental impact and more value at end-of-life. This includes
manufacturing equipment that is easier to upgrade and/or recycle. “HP has recycled 1
billion pounds of electronic products from 1987 to 2007 and has committed to
recycling another billion pounds between 2008 and 2011.”
Health Care
The health care industry is becoming an important market, and HP hopes to use its
information technology expertise to expand its business in this area. HP works
together with other organizations to help under served communities, and uses its
innovative technology such as digital records and mobile health solution, to advance
lifesaving care and research.2
1
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-information/social-innovation/entrepreneurship.html
2
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-information/social-innovation/health.html
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Indoor Air Pollution
Treehugger reported that HP laser printers do emit ozone, volatile organic compounds
and harmful particles which are comparable to particle emission from cigarette
smoking. HP responded by stating that these emissions are consistently below
recognized occupational exposure limits.3
Toxic Materials
As reported by Greenpeace, HP had backtracked on their promise to exclude
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) from their
products. As a result, HP was penalized in the ranking for the quarterly Greenpeace
Guide to Greener Electronics, dropping to 14th place in 2009.4 HP has defended these
claims saying that they are working towards the reduction of these
chemicals. Although the company cannot achieve these goals overnight, it will
continue its commitment to reduce these hazardous substances in their products with
each new innovation. In 2011, HP climbed in the ranking to 4th place as a result of
its progress in bringing products that are free from PVC and BFRs onto the market
and a new commitment to phase out beryllium and compounds by July 2011.5
3
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/laser-printers-dangerous-as-smoking.php
4
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/greenpeace-tresspasses-paints-on-hps-
roof-to-protest-hazardous-materials-in-electronics_products.php
5
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/Guide-to-
Greener-Electronics/