End-of-life

We design HP products to be more easily recycled, using common fasteners and snap-in features and avoiding the use of glues, adhesives and welds where feasible. This makes it easier to dismantle products and to separate and identify different plastics.

The materials we choose can also enhance recyclability. For example, in 2007 we introduced several notebook PC models with LED technology, eliminating mercury fluorescent tubes and making the display screens easier to manage at end-of-life.

Overall, HP notebook PC products are now more than 90 percent recyclable or recoverable by weight.¹

Our printing and imaging products are typically 70 percent to 85 percent recyclable or recoverable by weight. And as of 2007, we require all materials used in our packaging to be recyclable.

Our use of recycled materials is also on the rise. HP used more than 5 million pounds of recycled plastic in its original HP inkjet cartridges in 2007, and the company is committed to using twice as much in 2008.

Reducing environmental impacts across the product life cycle

Design

• Conformance to Design for Environment (DfE) standards allows products to meet regulatory requirements
• Eco-labels demonstrate conformance with international environmental expectations and green procurement criteria
• DfE increases materials and energy efficiency
• Recycled content is used, where feasible
• Design for Recyclability (DfR) features facilitate disassembly and recycling

Raw materials

• Materials reduction and use of recycled materials decrease virgin materials use
• Reduction in the number of different material types used in a single product potentially adds value at end-of-life
• Reduction in product size uses fewer resources
• Recycled materials are used in some new products
• Restricted substances are reduced or eliminated

Manufacturing

• Supplier Code of Conduct helps suppliers address key HP environmental requirements including General Specification for the Environment (GSE)
• DfR features typically enable easier product assembly
• Efficient operations reduce emissions and waste from our operations
• Global ISO 14001 certification helps in establishing effective environmental management processes

Distribution

• Smaller, lighter products decrease greenhouse gas emissions and transportation impacts and costs
• Improved packaging designs increase the number of products per pallet, reducing product transport environmental burden
• Transportation by sea allows for more efficient shipments with lower environmental impact
• HP participates in several organizations that promote industrywide reduction in environmental impacts from product transport

Use

• Efficient product design, longer battery life and enhanced power management decrease energy consumption and reduce climate impact
• Multi-function products reduce energy and materials use
• Environmental product features reduce total cost of ownership
• Server center optimization reduces system energy use
• HP printing products are efficient and reliable, reducing paper waste and cartridge use
• Products designed for reliability and upgradeability extend functional lifetime, saving IT rollover costs and reducing waste

End-of-life

• HP offers a variety of take-back options, including asset recovery, donation, leasing, remarketing/refurbishment, trade-in and recycling
• Materials selection and identification increase value at end-of-life and facilitate recycling
• Design features increase ease of disassembly, recycling and material reuse