Travel

In 2007, HP employee travel, which includes business commercial air travel, the HP air fleet and company cars, was responsible for approximately 464,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions. Our emissions from business travel have remained constant despite our growth, but we recognize their climate impact and are working to minimize them.

HP maintains a small number of aircraft and a fleet of company cars for sales and services employees. We expanded data collection to include our auto fleet in Asia Pacific and Japan in 2007. We continue to seek ways to improve our data collection and emissions estimates for our auto fleet.

Our Green Fleet initiative is an example of our work to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Beginning in 2008, all new cars that HP purchases in several of the countries in that region must meet stricter CO₂e emission limits that will decrease each year. The goal is to ultimately eliminate high-fuel-consumption cars from our fleet in favor of those that require less fuel, including hybrids, or use alternative fuels. In certain countries, we are also offering training and incentives to employees to promote more environmentally responsible driving and the use of alternative transportation. In addition to benefiting the environment, this program will help HP avoid higher taxes on cars that have high GHG emissions or fuel consumption while supporting our overall goal to decrease our carbon footprint.

We encourage employees to use teleconferencing whenever possible to reduce GHG emissions from transportation and to lower travel costs. We provide several solutions, including the HP Virtual Room and the HP Halo Telepresence Solutions. Halo takes video conferencing and collaboration to a new level, allowing colleagues and teams dispersed across the globe to meet virtually while still feeling as if they are in the same room. Halo also includes energy-saving features, such as displays and lights that automatically turn off when not in use. 

HP currently has 34 Halo studios in 14 countries and plans to nearly quadruple that number by the end of 2009. This effort is expected to significantly reduce HP travel and save at least 32,000 tonnes of CO₂e per year.

Based on our internal study, the average roundtrip business flight generates more than 0.91 tonnes of CO₂e emissions per person for the air travel portion only. We estimate that each internal Halo studio at HP currently eliminates at least one roundtrip flight per business day, which amounts to a savings of more than 237 tonnes of CO₂e per studio per year. When employees request travel arrangements to and from destinations with Halo Studios through HP’s travel system, they are now prompted to consider booking a Halo Studio instead.

Greenhouse gas emissions from employee business travel, 2005–2007 [Tonnes CO2]

	Employee commuting

While greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from employee commuting are not directly within HP's control, we have programs designed to reduce them. For example, our global Telework program allows employees to work from home whenever business needs accommodate it.

We currently have nearly 13,000 employees worldwide who work exclusively from home offices. While some are sales representatives who use their cars for customer visits, the HP Telework program saves many roundtrip commutes to the office, reducing road travel and associated GHG emissions. In addition, many HP employees divide their work time between an HP site and their home office, further reducing travel and emissions.

We also offer a program in the United States that enables HP employees to purchase public transit and vanpool services through a payroll deduction. The deduction offers tax benefits, reducing the overall cost of commuting. We also encourage ways to reduce the number of single-occupied vehicle trips into HP offices, including bicycling, compressed work schedules and carpooling. Carpoolers often can park in designated parking spots that are closer to the front entrance. Most of the sites with bicyclists offer showers and bike locks and storage at no charge.

¹ Includes data from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
² Emissions calculations in EMEA were completed using different fleet information than in past years. Data from 2007 is subject to revision.