Paper and paper products make up the largest percentage by volume of global solid waste streams. HP is working to use paper more efficiently and to increase our use of recycled paper products. Our aim is to reduce the number, size and weight of manuals and other literature, use automatic or manual duplex capability (printing on both sides of a page) to reduce paper usage, use addendums and revisions for updating manuals, and maximizing the use of post-consumer recycled content paper.
In 1999 HP committed to restrict its paper suppliers from providing products from non-sustainable forest sources. In addition, we participate in the
Paper Working Group and the
EPA's WasteWi$e program. Furthermore,
HP has internal procurement specifications in place to promote the use of recycled content, business cards, stationery and advertising materials. HP also offers and uses our own brand of recycled
office paper with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content.
As part of the company's ongoing commitment to environmental leadership, HP pledged to reduce the environmental impact of the papers that the company buys, uses, and sells by establishing one of the most comprehensive paper policies in the industry. HP's paper policy outlines six guiding principles that apply worldwide to HP branded paper, as well as paper used for HP's internal operations, external marketing collateral and product packaging. The guiding principles include:
- Efficient use of raw materials
- Sustainable forestry practices
- Responsible and low carbon production
- Waste minimization
- Community and human well-being
- Environmental leadership and management
HP's new policy sets guidelines for the entire lifecycle of paper. The company will ensure that raw material inputs are used efficiently, give preference to suppliers who source fiber from credibly certified, sustainable forests and minimize carbon production and waste in the manufacturing process and enable the responsible use and recycling of paper. HP plans to report on the company's progress in implementing the policy and reducing the environmental impact of paper.
