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HP Invests $2 Million in Cartridge Recycling, Says Sustainability Key for Business

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HP Inc. today announced a $2 million investment to expand its ocean-bound plastic supply chain. The company will build a new plastic washing line in Haiti that it says will allow it to produce cleaner, higher-quality recycled plastic locally for use in HP products.

The firm says that this investment continues HP’s longstanding commitment to diverting ocean-bound plastic and contributing to a lower-carbon, circular economy while providing jobs and education opportunities locally.

HP has been actively reducing ocean-bound plastic in Haiti since 2016, when the company began partnering with the First Mile Coalition to convert plastic bottles into recycled material used in original HP ink cartridges. These efforts have already diverted approximately 716,000 pounds of plastic materials—or more than 25 million bottles— preventing this plastic from reaching the waterways and oceans and repurposed it into HP cartridges.

Globally, HP has converted more than 199 million pounds of recycled plastic into 3.9 billion HP original ink and toner cartridges since 2000.

In addition to protecting our oceans and the planet, HP says its ocean-bound plastic programs are also creating new opportunities for economic advancement and education in local communities. In Haiti, HP’s partnership with Thread International and Work has helped create more than 795 income opportunities for adults in the country and opened two new learning centers equipped with HP ProBook x360 Education Edition laptops and HP printers. The collaboration has already provided 100 children with quality education, food, and medical assistance and the new investment will create more than 1,000 new income opportunities.

“Our investments and partnerships in Haiti are a great example of the positive change that can happen when businesses and NGOs come together to support shared objectives,” said Ellen Jackowski, global head of Sustainability Strategy and Innovation, HP. “We are keeping millions of plastic bottles from ever reaching our oceans, converting them into sustainable products, and creating new opportunities for local residents through job creation and education.”

The new washing line will help enable Haiti to expand its recycling capabilities and compete better on the international plastics market with thanks to HP suppliers Lavergne and ECSSA, which have partnered with HP on the project since efforts began in 2016.

HP joined ocean-bound plastics leader NextWave Plastics in October 2018 to join similarly focused companies dedicated to integrating ocean-bound plastics into their product-supply chains. The coalition has set a goal to divert a minimum of 25,000 tonnes of plastics, the equivalent to 1.2 billion single-use plastic water bottles, from entering the ocean by the end of the year 2025.

“We are thrilled to see Member Company, HP, continue to ‘turn off the tap’ on ocean bound plastics,” said Dune Ives, executive director of Lonely Whale, the convening entity for NextWave Plastics. “There are currently more than 86 million metric tons of plastic in our ocean, and each year, over 8 million metric tons of additional plastic enters the ocean. HP’s collaborative approach in Haiti is driving meaningful impact to reduce marine litter today. We are proud that our member companies continue to scale commercially viable and operational ocean-bound plastics supply chains – keeping plastic in the economy and out of the ocean.”

New HP Sustainability Study

Also today, HP unveiled a new study underscoring the importance of sustainable business practices in recruiting, hiring, and retaining top talent. It also finds that employees are more productive, motivated, and engaged when working for an employer who is leading the charge in social responsibility.

The global, 20,000 participant survey found that 61 percent believe sustainability is mandatory for businesses. Of those interviewed, 56 percent believe that ignoring environmental impact in the workplace is as bad as ignoring diversity and inclusion.

For many businesses, the first wave of sustainable changes was addressed through big ticket items such as LEED building certification and energy-efficient lighting. Now they are focusing on the next layer of easily overlooked sustainable improvements like composting and the direct purchase of renewable energy.

“The study released today proves what HP has suspected for many years – businesses, and their workforce, are demanding higher levels of sustainability and quality from their suppliers,” said Dave McQuarrie, global head of Print Business Management, HP Imaging and Printing. “HP has been committed to sustainable impact for decades. By reducing reliance on single-use plastics and delivering more sustainable supplies we are fulfilling a critical part of our reinvention journey and commitment to the environment.”

Office Eco-Friendly Practices

HP notes that one of the most overlooked opportunities for eco-friendly practices in the workplace is in the purchase and disposal of printer ink and toner cartridges, a global market estimated to be around $45 billion, according to an Actionable Intelligence white paper to be published in June 2019.

According to HP, the influx of imitation cartridges as an alternative to original OEM print cartridges has created a host of new challenges for purchasers, including the fact that many purchasers don’t realize that imitation cartridges are often not recycled. As a result, 97 percent of imitation cartridges may end up in landfills, according to an InfoTrends study commissioned by HP.

Forest-Positive Initiative

Last month, HP pledged to make every page printed forest-positive, carbon-neutral, and part of a circular economy with innovation that helps protect the world’s forests, reduces carbon emissions, and uses more recycled materials.

In 2016, HP achieved 100-percent zero deforestation associated with HP-branded paper, nearly two years ahead of schedule. HP also says its paper-based product packaging zero deforestation goal is on track for 2020.

To learn more about HP’s commitments to the environment, visit HP’s  company’s pledge to make every page printed forest-positive, carbon-neutral and part of a circular economy.

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