Travel

We calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for HP employee travel, including commercial air travel and use of the HP air fleet and company cars.

In 2009, employees traveled more than 1.15 billion miles by air, more than 75 percent of which was long-haul (greater than 994 miles in distance), generating approximately 214,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions. This represents a 33 percent decrease in emissions compared with 2008, primarily through a reduction in long-distance flights. We continue to reduce emissions from travel by using teleconferencing where possible. Globally, we have also begun to provide employees who are booking travel with information about the emissions associated with their journey. When more than one option is available, they can choose the one with the least environmental impact.

HP maintains a small number of aircraft and a fleet of company cars for sales and services employees. Under our Green Fleet Contra Emission Program, we have set strict CO₂e emissions limits for all new cars we purchase in some countries in our Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The limits will decrease each year. Through this measure and other components of the program, we are working to eliminate high-fuel-consumption cars from our fleet.

We encourage employees to use teleconferencing facilities, including the HP Virtual Room and HP Halo solutions, whenever possible to cut down on travel, GHG emissions and costs.

HP Halo allows our employees around the world to meet virtually while still feeling as if they are in the same room. HP Halo is installed in HP locations around the world. Most studios are used on average 150 hours per month, but in some locations usage is as high as 250 hours per month. HP has quadrupled the number of studios at HP locations, which allowed us to eliminate more than 20,000 additional trips annually over prior years, reducing CO₂e emissions by another 35,000 tonnes and saving millions of dollars in travel costs. On a per studio basis, the net CO₂e savings is more than 230 tonnes each year.

HP has reduced business travel by 43 percent in some groups and eliminated it completely in other business teams. HP Halo also includes energy-saving features, such as displays and lights that automatically turn off when not in use.

HP SkyRoom technology offers an affordable and convenient desktop collaboration alternative to business travel, saving time and the GHG emissions associated with travel to meetings. It enables up to four colleagues in different locations to conduct a high-quality video conference at their desks while sharing rich media content such as 3-D graphics.

See detailed travel data in the data dashboard.

Employee commuting

While GHG emissions from employee commuting are not directly within HP's control, we offer programs designed to reduce those emissions.

Many HP employees have the option of working outside the office—at home, at customer facilities and at offices where people are free to use any available desk—and often divide their work time between these locations. Allowing employees to choose where they work reduces commutes to the office and can improve efficiency and work-life balance.

We encourage employees to cut down on single-occupied vehicle trips into HP offices, by bicycling, compressing work schedules and carpooling. Carpoolers can often park in designated parking spots. Most of the sites with bicycle commuters offer showers, bike lockers and storage.

In the United States, HP employees can purchase public transit and vanpool services through a payroll deduction with tax benefits. The program also offers an online system that makes ordering transit passes quicker and easier.