Every big company right now tries to develop programs to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, to improve the way they're doing business and find the most innovative solutions for their products.

HP bases its sustainability programs on three pillars, People, Planet and the Community. Also, the company has launched Hp Amplify Impact which has over 10.000 partners across the globe. The program tries to create meaningful impact when talking about Climate Action, Human Rights and Digital Equity not only for HP, but also for its partners.

But HP is big in printing, so how can printing be green? According to Mugur Pantaia, the company has reached zero deforestation associated with HP brand paper in 2016 and it's pushing the Instant Ink program, that offers a subscription for people based on what they're consuming and also recycling for cartridges.

The main points you will find out about in the interview above:

  • HP Amplify Impact program has 10.000 partners
  • HP has the goal to reduce single-use plastic packaging by 75% by 2025.
  • The goal is to increase the usage of postconsumer recycled plastic from 9% to 30% in 2025.
  • Through 2020 HP manufactured over 4.9 billion original HP and Samsung cartridges using 125.000 tones of recycled plastic.
  • 51% renewable energy used in global operations in 2020.
  • HP has launched the Sustainable Forests Collaborative to restore and manage more than 200.000 acres of forests in Brazil and China.
  • The initiative was also launched in Romania alongside Padurea Copiilor NGo.
  • Sustainability is not just about direct actions, but also about education. Mugur Pantaia talks about the LIFE initiative where HP reached 374.000 students in 198 countries.
  • HP was the first IT company to release the GHG emissions associated with its products manufacturing.
  • In 2013 was the first company to publish its full carbon footprint.
  • Instant Ink rose to 9 million people worldwide.
  • HP employees for Romania did 4309 volunteering hours in 2021.

Which are the main pillars HP is relying on when it comes to sustainability?

HP is committed to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2040. Our dedication to sustainable impact has been integrated to the business strategy and operations for over 20 years, because we have this belief that what’s good for the environment is good for business.

HP’s Sustainable Impact framework includes three pillars: the People, the Planet, and the Community. Thus, we are continuously transforming the business for a circular economy and low carbon future to help protect the planet.

Last year, HP launched the Amplify Impact program - a unique partner assessment, resource, and training program - which provides over 10,000 partners across the globe with the opportunity to join HP in its efforts to generate meaningful impact on Climate Action, Human Rights and Digital Equity. Starting this month of February, the program is also available in Romania.

We are also committed to a forest positive future and I am proud to say that, back in 2016, the company achieved zero deforestation associated with HP brand paper.

We are on track to eliminate deforestation related to packaging and the goal is to reduce single-use plastic packaging by 75%, by 2025. Globally, HP is working with its suppliers on reducing the environmental impact of the value chain.

Last but not least, HP has a sustainable portfolio of products and services, the goal is to increase our usage of postconsumer recycled plastic from 9% in 2019 to 30% by 2025, across HP’s print and personal systems portfolios.

To conclude, I would quote Enrique Lores, President and CEO of the company, who wisely pointed out: “At this moment in history, and from this point forward, companies will be judged by more than the profits they generate. They will be measured by the value they create for society.”

What actions did the company undertake in order to meet its sustainability commitments?

Recently, HP announced the acquisition of CHOOSE Packaging, inventor of the world’s only commercially available zero-plastic paper bottle. This investment accelerates our sustainable packaging business, leveraging HP’s 3D printing-enabled Molded Fiber Tooling solution to further transform the $10 billion fiber-based packaging market.

What are some of the numbers in terms of impact on the environment of the actions the company has taken?

  • 1,700,000 pounds (almost 800,000 tones) of ocean-bound plastic was sourced for use in HP products.
  • Through 2020, we manufactured over 4.9 billion original HP and Samsung cartridges using a cumulative 125,000 tones of recycled plastic, including from recycled HP cartridges. This has kept 916 million original HP cartridges, an estimated 127 million apparel hangers, and 5 billion postconsumer plastic bottles out of landfills, instead upcycling these materials for continued use.
  • 1.38 tones of supply chain CO2 emissions avoided, since 2010.
  • 51% renewable electricity used in global operations in 2020.
  • We are more than halfway to achieving the goal of reducing product use greenhouse gas emissions by 30% until 2025.
  • Through the Sustainable Forests Collaborative, HP is working to protect, restore and manage more than 200,000 acres of forests in Brazil and China. We have such an initiative in Romania, as well. Last year we joined forces with Padurea Copiilor NGO to restore degraded land in the south of Romania by afforestation. The Romanian highlands are almost 60% afforested, but the plane area of Sud-Muntenia Region is barely covered, by only 6.5%.
  • By initiating this new project, Padurea Copiilor, with the financial support of HP, will continue its dedication to restoring degraded land in the region. An average of 12,000 saplings will be planted, positively impacting the 6,700 residents of Filipestii de Targ and indirectly more than 230,000 people from the industrialized area of Ploiesti.
  • Sustainability is not just a planet problem; it is a people problem as well. Having in mind that education is a human right and technology can be a great equalizer, I would mention HP LIFE (Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs), a program of the HP Foundation which provides free access to 30 entrepreneurship and IT training courses. Since 2016, the HP LIFE program has reached over 374,000 students in 198 countries and territories, helping them start and grow their own business or get a better job. Goal is 1 million users by 2025.
  • This program is available in Romanian on the Junior Achievement (JA) LMS platform, being also implemented in JA entrepreneurship competitions. In 2020, over 65,000 students attended classes organized through this program.

I believe it’s also important to mention only two of the HP’s milestones with regard to sustainability. In 2007, HP was the first IT company to release the GHG emissions associated with its products manufacturing. Then, in 2013, it was the first IT company to publish its full carbon footprint.

How can a sustainability program/commitment also contribute to the company’s economic development, with benefits for shareholders as well as for customers?

We also have data for the fiscal year 2021. HP’s commitment to Sustainable Impact helped the company to win more than $3.5 billion in new sales, representing a >3x annual increase.

The HP Amplify Impact Program has trained, educated and empowered over 1,400 global partners to drive change while maximizing opportunities with sustainability as a key competitive differentiator.

As part of its Climate Action targets, HP set an ambitious goal of enrolling at least 50 percent of its HP Amplify partners in the voluntary program by 2025. Studies show that, more and more, people are willing to work for companies that are being active in supporting sustainability.

The HP Amplify Impact program for HP Partners was launched in 2021. How does it apply to partners and why it is important?

The program is now available in 43 countries around the globe, Romania included, with the mission to drive accountability throughout the IT industry. The company will provide all HP Amplify partners with access to training, sales tools, marketing assets, and access to HP’s Sustainability & Compliance Centre. Thus, we empower partners to set bold, long-term objectives to drive positive impact.

This is a key program through the pillars it was built on, the same pillars of the HP’s Sustainable Impact framework:

  • Planet - drive toward a net-zero carbon, fully regenerative circular economy while creating the industry’s most sustainable portfolio of technology, services and solutions.
  • People - respecting human rights, enabling people across the value chain to thrive and cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.
  • Community - help eliminate the digital divide that prevents too many from accessing the education, jobs and healthcare needed to thrive.

You've also invested heavily in developing new printing products - including the HP Instant Ink subscription service - how important is a subscription in the process of creating a circular economy, thus promoting sustainability?

In Romania, HP has launched almost a year ago the Instant Ink subscription. HP Instant Ink uses high-volume cartridges, a subscription pricing model based on pages printed, and direct-to-customer free shipping delivery only when you run low as the printer sends this information to HP. The monthly plans are flexible; they can be canceled or changed anytime. If the user does not use all the pages included in his monthly plan, they automatically rollover to the next month.

What results have you achieved so far with the HP Instant Ink service in Romania?

The pandemic created strong print demand to support working and learning from home and Instant Ink subscribers rose to over 9 million worldwide.

Instant Ink is a service that offers consumers up to 70% lower printing costs alongside the convenience of front-door delivery. Through automatic ink orders, when the printer is running low, we solve two major customer points: cost and convenience.

Additionally, it underlines our engagement in sustainability: our original cartridges contain recycled plastic, including ocean-bound plastics.

What business goals the company has for Romania in 2022?

In Romania, we aim to grow opportunities in the hybrid work environment, security and of course in contractual business covering Personal Systems and Print for companies, but also for individuals, focusing on Instant Ink subscriptions and HP+ printing system, .

Regarding the hybrid work, I believe it is here to stay even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Our customers will constantly need products and services to meet the new working style requirements and to help them stay productive no matter the place they’re working from.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also weakened organizational security. Remote access inefficiencies, VPN vulnerabilities and a shortage of staff means data and devices are now less secure. Cybercrime is estimated to become a $10.5 trillion annual problem globally, by 2025, and every 4 seconds a new piece of malware is discovered. You see why it is extremely important to have this sector covered.

Also, print is nowadays very much part of our businesses and personal lives and we are here to make print simple and cost efficient. HP Managed Print Services transforms businesses digitally by ensuring information and data flow securely across teams, tasks, and workplaces. I’ve already mentioned Instant Ink subscription service which is one of the main elements of the HP+ printing system that is a free upgrade which turns your printer into a Smart device with advanced features that make it easy to print from any app, any device – anywhere. They are all available in Romania for our customers.

How do you involve local employees in your sustainability campaigns?

Last year, we rolled out our campaigns with the help of 854 volunteers and my colleagues counted 4309 volunteering hours in 2021. Moreover, these campaigns are not only about getting involved, but also about getting aware of some challenges we need to face in order to embrace a sustainable way of living and working.

I’ve already spoken about some big campaigns implemented by HP globally such as HP LIFE. Through this project our employees provide students examples and case studies on how to use IT tools in the main activities of a business start-up. HP volunteers become mentors for university student-teams, helping them to develop their business ideas and to pilot them on the real market.

Locally, we have a project called Hacks for a Sustainable Life which aims to open a conversation around recycling and to introduce to the participants new and creative ways in which they can reduce their waste.

The project consists in 4 workshop sessions held by the Calea Victoriei Foundation around the topics of sustainable living and DIY. Caps of Love is another campaign launched by HP Romania in 2020 to promote and encourage selective recycling. We are collecting plastic lids that are being sent to an NGO which sells them to be reused. The amount of money will be then doubled by a sponsor and afterwards donated to someone in need.

Last but not least, we would like to continue in 2022 the HP Forest initiative through the Sustainable Forests Collaborative.