Currently , the sheer quantity of packaging generates a tremendous environmental impact , but there are ways to reduce it . The first is simply to produce less , for instance by redesigning packaging so that it involves less material . The second is to cut down on resource extraction by using recycled material and by producing packaging material that itself can be recycled . And the third is to produce material that can be composted or otherwise returned to the environment in a non-polluting way .
Not only is there a growing market for such solutions but increasing pressure from regulators , as well . Recent years have seen a spate of new rules regarding packaging waste around the world ; among the countries in the lead are Belgium , Brazil , Argentina , and India . In the United States , Maine , Oregon , Colorado , and California have all enacted legislation to reduce packaging waste . California ’ s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act , for instance , requires all single-use packaging in the state to be compostable or recyclable by 2032 .
HP has made significant strides in reducing single-use plastics in primary packaging for personal systems and printer hardware . In 2019 , the company set a goal to eliminate 75 % of single-use plastic packaging by 2025 , compared with 2018 . In 2022 , HP achieved a 55 % reduction from 2018 levels .
“ Packaging plays a crucial role in the sustainability of our products , as it safeguards them during transportation ,” says Wei Zhao , Director of Worldwide Packaging Design & Procurement at HP . “ However , we know that excessive or inefficient packaging can contribute to unnecessary waste and resource consumption .”
HP is eliminating needless packaging material and hard-to-recycle materials such as plastic foam ; innovating new packaging designs to use materials with lower environmental impact , such as sustainable fiber and recycled plastics ; and prioritizing recycled content and easily recyclable materials , such as molded fiber . Also known as molded pulp , molded fiber packaging is typically composed of recycled paperboard and / or newsprint but can also be made from many plant cellulose fibers , including bagasse , bamboo , and wheat straw .
HP ’ s Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling Solution , a business that HP launched in 2020 , leverages Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology to engineer customized tools for molded fiber production for specific applications . ( See the process explained , next page .) The result is biodegradable and recyclable packaging that can be tailored to protect almost any shaped product during shipping and handling , from food containers and household items to electronics and single-use medical devices . HP uses its own tooling technology to produce molded fiber packaging to ship some of its toner products and the HP Desktop Mini lineup of PCs .
“ Sustainable molded fiber alternatives not only minimize waste but also enhance recyclability and circularity ,” says Zhao . “ Through the implementation of molded fiber packaging solutions , we are making significant strides in achieving our sustainability objectives while addressing the global challenge of plastic waste .”
Not only is HP using molded fiber to package some of its own products , it ’ s helping its customers create custom packaging to enhance their production process and make it more sustainable . Omni-Pac Group , a French company that started out producing egg trays made from recycled newspaper in the 1970s , today manufactures a wide variety of molded fiber packaging materials for agriculture and other industries , including egg trays for mass shipping . The company is a major manufacturer of wet molded fiber in Europe , sourcing wastepaper from municipal recycling centers , which is then shredded and mixed with water to form a papiermâché-like blend . “ We pride ourselves on having green products ,” says Omni-Pac CEO Pablo Libreros . “ They ’ re made out of recycled paper , and the products themselves are recyclable and compostable .”
Omni-Pac taps HP ’ s Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling Solution and leverages its expertise in fluid dynamics to optimize the thickness and weight of the finished packaging , while minimizing water usage and waste . Using digital manufacturing to 3D print the tool to exact specs not only speeds up the whole manufacturing process but also makes it more efficient to create a single mold on demand . J
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