must be reused , recycled , or renewable . Today , the company is at around 41 % circularity , Jackowski says . That ’ s thanks in part to a history of recovering and reusing plastic beginning in 1991 , with the launch of the
HP Planet Partners recycling program . Planet Partners
has already upcycled 916 million Original HP ink cartridges , an estimated 127 million apparel hangers , and five billion postconsumer plastic bottles . The material is used to make new Original HP ink and toner cartridges .
Investing in materials and communities But increasingly
common , unsettling images of ocean garbage patches and suffering marine life have made it clear that more needs to be done to stop plastic from entering waterways . HP launched a collection and recycling program in Haiti five years ago , and what began as a pilot initiative has grown into a long-term investment with remarkable environmental and social impacts .
“ HP is an industry leader and a trusted partner within the NextWave Plastics consortium ,” explains Dune Ives , CEO of the nonprofit
Lonely Whale . Lonely Whale convened
NextWave Plastics , a collaborative and open-source initiative that brings together leading multinational companies , to develop the first global network of ocean-bound plastic supply chains . HP joined in 2018 ; other members include Trek , Herman Miller , and IKEA .
“ Demonstrating that ocean-bound plastic is valuable in multiple-use cases — not just as a solitary application , but across the board , spanning this entire suite of products — really demonstrates the commercial viability of the material ,” Ives says .
In addition to recovering the 2.4 million pounds of plastic , the Haiti recycling center has created 1,100 income opportunities for local adults . HP has also provided school tuition and supplemental learning centers for the children of collectors at the facility , which is adjacent to Haiti ’ s Truitier landfill .
“ IT ISN ’ T JUST ABOUT THE PLASTIC AND THE MATERIALS , BUT THE LIVELIHOODS OF PEOPLE .”
— ELLEN JACKOWSKI , HP ’ S CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER AND HEAD OF SUSTAINABLE IMPACT
“ It isn ’ t just about the plastic and the materials , but the livelihoods of people ,” Jackowski says . “ These are good , sustainable , long-term jobs that we ’ re creating together with our supply chain partners . That , in turn , is helping to lift up the community and give their families more opportunity .” Last year , HP installed a
$ 2 million washing line at the Haiti recycling center that will enable at least 10 times more plastic to be recycled annually and create another
1,000 income opportunities .
“ I think this is really a template for sustainability projects going forward to find those solutions that not only solve environmental problems , but also have a social impact ,” says Dean Miller , Global Head , Sustainability and Product Compliance at HP .
Pushing forward HP continues to expand its programs to intercept ocean-bound plastic . In January 2020 , the
company joined Project STOP , an effort to create a circular waste management system in East Java , Indonesia . And recently , HP partnered with Lonely Whale to produce
OH-WAKE , a zine created by youth activists in ocean conservation , published by the
Ocean Heroes Network . [ Click here for a sneak peek .]
OH-WAKE aims to inspire kids from all over the world to get involved in ocean conservation issues , including plastic pollution . “ This is not possible without HP ’ s support , its leadership , and their forward-looking insight into the power of this generation to lead ,” Ives says .
Building relationships with project partners , suppliers , and communities remains an essential part of HP ’ s success in achieving progress now and in the future , Jackowski says . “ Staying true to the commitment that you ’ ve made as a company , finding the best partners , and being open to innovation — those are the keys to building processes that work and last for years to come .”
The monitor ’ s plastic enclosures are 85 % recycled plastic and 5 % OBP . The monitors are also packed and shipped in post-recycled materials .
The shell of this business backpack is made with 100 % OBP . All tags , strings , and stuffing are sourced from 100 % recycled biodegradable materials .
These contain more than 70 % postconsumer recycled content , including at least 5 % OBP . An
HP Instant Ink subscription further reduces the carbon footprint .
HP / INNOVATION / FALL 2021 49