The global cartridge collection network, HP Planet Partners, will be rolled out more than 9,000 retail outlets in 56 countries and territories, through collaboration with retailers such as Office Depot, Office Max, Staples and Walmart.

HP hope this move will enable it to hit a key target to recycle 3.5 billion pounds of electronic products and supplies by the end of 2015 and provide greater opportunity to create new ink and toner cartridges using plastic recovered in this way.

To date, the manufacturer has utilised more than 118 million pounds of recycled content, diverting 280 million cartridges and 2 billion post-consumer plastic bottles from landfill.

Carbon savings are also being created – compared to virgin plastic, the recycled plastic used in HP ink cartridges produced in 2010 and beyond has up to an estimated 33% smaller carbon footprint, even when accounting for impacts associated with collecting, transporting and processing. Using recycled plastic is also calculated to reduce total water used by up to 89%.

HP has also launched a complete line of sustainably sourced papers – 100% of its Everyday Office Paper range is now FSC-certified.

More than 40% of HP’s total tonnage worldwide is either FSC-certified or contains at least 30% post-consumer waste. The company’s goal is for at least 50% of own-branded paper to meet these standards by the end of 2015.

Maxine Perella

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