In a five-year agreement with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), HP will contribute $US11 million to help restore part of Brazil's threatened Atlantic Forest and increase sustainable management of state-owned forest plantations in China.
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| HP and WWF announce steps towards “a forest positive future for printing" |
“Partnering with WWF, HP is committing to the restoration, protection and conservation of 200,000 acres of forest, an area equal to the size of New York City,” said HP, which announced the initiative at the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit in New York.
“As part of the 5-year agreement, HP will also support WWF’s efforts in developing science-based targets for forests, estimating carbon and nature co-benefits of forest restoration and improved forest management. The new initiative, led by WWF, begins this November. The two major forest restoration and management projects mark the first within HP’s Sustainable Forests Cooperative.”
Tuan Tran, president, HP global imaging and printing solutions, said: “HP has long envisioned a future bettered by technology and the power it has to create a more sustainable future. That’s why we’ve teamed up with World Wildlife Fund, FSC and others to create a forest positive future for printing by restoring and protecting the world’s forests for our industry, our customers and our communities.”
The company’s goal is that printing with HP will directly increase responsible FSC-certified and recycled fibre sourcing, while contributing to the restoration, protection and improved management of the world’s forests for future generations.
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| Birds in the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil |
Over the 5-year agreement, HP will contribute $11m for WWF to restore part of Brazil's threatened Atlantic Forest and increase sustainable management of state-owned farms and forest plantations in China – ultimately protecting a combined area of 200,000 acres. HP will also contribute toward WWF’s development of science-based targets for forests.
“The decline of forests around the world increasingly destabilizes our climate and threatens the rich biodiversity that sustains billions of lives and livelihoods,” said Carter Roberts, president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund. “To reverse the global loss and degradation of forests, companies need to look beyond their own supply chains and implement bold strategies to protect and restore these critical ecosystems. HP’s new project has the potential to deliver meaningful and lasting change and spur other industry leaders to action.”
With resource-rich forests being destroyed at the pace of 27 soccer fields per minute, HP believes the time for better business models, greater collaboration and swift action is now, the company said.
"HP is working with the world’s largest paper manufacturers, including International Paper whose tonnage of responsibly sourced fibre is more than seven million tons a year, equal to the weight of 50,000 blue whales – the largest animal on earth. International Paper and WWF have also collaborated on ambitious goals for the sustainable sourcing of fibre, and the two are establishing the first ever science-based targets for forest conservation."
Having achieved its zero deforestation goals with HP branded paper, and in addition to the projects announced in New York, HP intends to increase awareness about the importance of responsibly managed forests, generating further demand for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified and forest-friendly products.
HP will also continue its efforts in reducing carbon emissions and energy use, while increasing the use of recycled materials and ocean-bound plastics in its products. The company is on track to achieve zero deforestation goals for packaging by 2020 and has committed to increasing the use of post-consumer recycled plastics to 30 percent across HP’s personal systems and print product portfolio by 2025.
