HP Introduces Greener Ink Packaging
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 02.11.07
Hewlett-Packard announced recently that it has redesigned its ink cartridge packaging. The packaging is now smaller and lighter, and it contains more recycled content. Printer ink is notoriously over-packaged, so this is a good move. These changes, according to HP, will cut down on 15 million pounds of materials over the course of 2007, including 6.8 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. PVC reduction — always a good move! But let's also make the ink more biodegradable and affordable. I've given up printing at home — it's just too inefficient.
Overall, the company estimated that it will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 37 million pounds. Because shipping containers will be able to accommodate many more packages, truck traffic for cartridge shipments is expected to be cut down by 1.5 million miles this year. Company calculations indicated that is the equivalent impact of 3,600 cars operating over the same period.
:: HP Press Release via Channel Insider
it's great when big companies make small changes because small changes can mean a lot...:)
That sounds great in practice, but think about all of the stores (e.g. Costco) who add their own packaging around the manufacturer's stuff.
For me, but it's only my opinion, it's a FALSE green change. A real good thing it's refill the ink cartridge, for example I refill my black cartridge around 35 times before trow it away. I buy, only one time a big bottle of black ink around two years ago... and I still use it...Reuse it's best than recycling!
I step in the right direction. Maybe they'll be reducing to volatile organic chemicals in their ink next. Most printers off-gass VOC's when they print. Green printing will arrive when we have ink that is harmless to humans.
Big companies could still do more. Great step in the right direction.
All manufacturers should be required to package in recycled material and with limitations. It's crazy how over packaged most products are.