HP AIMS to eliminate the brominated flame retardant (BFR) tetrabromobisphenol A from external case parts of all new HP brand products introduced after December 31 this year.
HP eliminated more than 95 per cent of the BFRs used in the external case parts of its products more than 10 years ago, including two, PBDE and PBB, that were subsequently among the substances restricted by the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.
During the same timeframe, the company also eliminated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from the external case parts of its products.
In keeping with the company's commitment to environmental and social responsibility, HP is working to ensure the safe production, operation and disposal of its IT products through environmental design and innovation. The company's 'Design for Environment' (DFE) initiative has resulted in the following recent achievements:
Elimination of the use of mercury in most of HP's all-in-one products by replacing mercury-containing scanner lamps with a new contact imaging technology lamp. This also makes the products easier to recycle.
Shipment last year of HP's first RoHS-compliant products.
Recognition for the HP Deskjet 6540 and 3740 printers as the 2004 Products of the Year in the Best Green Computing Product category for minimal environmental impact and recycling by analog Zone.
Materials innovation is fundamental to HP's product environmental strategy. By integrating environmental considerations into the design process, HP is able to reduce materials costs, decrease a product's negative environmental impact, meet customer demands for smaller and more efficient products, and reduce recycling and disposal costs - ultimately reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
"We are committed to reducing our own environmental impact, as well as that of our customers, partners and suppliers," David Lear, vice-president, Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility, HP, said. "Our 'Design for Environment' initiative is in place and our customers demand it.
"In fact, in 2004, we received several billion dollars worth of requests for proposals that required information on HP's commitment to social and environmental responsibility."
For more than 20 years, HP has had a pioneering DFE programme and is continually looking for ways to improve the environmental performance of its products and operations.
HP's DFE Product Stewards, experts on designing for the environment, are integrated into product design and research and development teams to identify, prioritise and recommend environmental design innovations to make products easier to disassemble and recycle.
Such features include: modular designs, snap-in features that eliminate the need for glues and adhesives, fewer materials, and moulded-in colours and finishes instead of paint, coatings or plating.
HP's DFE goals:
Eliminate the use of BFRs in the external case parts of all new HP brand products introduced after December 31 (to be accomplished while still meeting stringent international fire safety standards);
Eliminate the remaining uses of BFRs and PVCs in HP brand products as acceptable alternatives are identified that will not compromise product performance or present health and environmental risks;
Exceed compliance obligations by meeting the requirements of the RoHS directive on a worldwide basis; and
Eliminate lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, as defined in the EU's RoHS directive, in 50 per cent of HP electronic products sold worldwide six months ahead of the July 2006 deadline of the EU RoHS directive.
More information on HP's DFE initiative is available at www.hp.com/go/environment