HP to Promote Recycling Strategy in Mexico

The Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) announced that it will seek to replicate its Brazilian recycling and manufacturing model in Mexico. The company's goal is to achieve a 50% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2030, while actively promoting sustainability throughout its global operations.

HP, the American technology company, specialized in the manufacturing of printers, chips, laptops, modems, cartridges and other devices, boasts a sustainability strategy based on three pillars: climate action, human rights and digital equality. According to the company’s 2022 sustainability impact report, HP managed to advance on its ESG goals through actions such as the planting of nearly 2 million trees, investing US$423 million in minority-owned businesses in the US and donating more than 7.4 million computers and tablets to low-income schools in India, Nigeria and the US. 

One of HP’s most ambitious goals is to reduce its value chain GHG emissions by 50% by 2030, compared to those of 2019, and achieve net zero emissions by 2040. Likewise, the company aims to reach 75% circularity on its products and packaging over the next seven years. In this context, HP has pointed out that Mexico stands out as a key market to work toward sustainability. 

Kami Saidi, Chief of Manufacturing and Circularity Operations, HP Brazil, revealed that the company has plans to replicate its successful recycling and manufacturing model in Mexico. "Mexico is a natural candidate to replicate the Brazilian recycling and manufacturing model. The goal is to produce equipment in Mexico for the global market. To achieve this, we want to invite all suppliers in the country to join HP's ecosystem in Mexico and, of course, to have a recycling ecosystem as well," he stated.

Since 2019, HP's recycling center in Sorocaba, Brazil has enabled the recovery of electronic devices collected from users, partners and Brazilian cooperatives, which are later used in the production of printers, laptops and monitors distributed throughout Latin America. This system has led the company to reduce its carbon footprint by 39%.

Saidi explained that currently, the company manufactures very specific products in Mexico, but the strategy is about to change. HP plans to increase their manufacturing capacity of technological items, which will be assembled using reused material from the devices they can collect within the country. 

However, this initiative is not without its challenges. Diego Mutta, Circularity Operations Manager, HP Brazil, noted that one of the main obstacles they face in increasing the percentage of recycled material in their products is the donation of technological devices for reuse. “Unfortunately, very few people adopt the habit of donating their devices. We need to promote greater awareness of the importance of extending the lifespan of devices and reintegrating them into the production cycle," he said.

Global E-Waste Monitor 2022 report revealed that globally, 57 million t of electronic waste were generated on an annual basis. Of this, 1.3 million t were attributed to Mexico. At the national level, only 10% of the technologic waste produced is collected for recycling, 50% is sent to uncontrolled landfills or dumpsites, while the remaining 40% is stored in homes or offices.

Mutta stressed that regulations regarding waste recycling and the lack of government incentives for this activity also present difficulties in the company's path toward sustainability. "It is essential for governments to pay more attention to this issue in order for recycling to scale up," emphasized Mutta.