Sustainability, Resilience Driving a New Tech Approach

Q: How would you assess the landscape from a technology perspective and what is the engine that keeps motivating companies to move forward?

A: The pandemic accelerated the adoption of technology. During the pandemic, many stayed home and used technology for work, school and even to have fun. Technology enabled them to fulfill different needs in a single household. Before 2000, everybody was acquiring technology but there was not a big transformation. In contrast, during the pandemic technology helped people to continue their daily activities. 

This period provided us with important lessons. Now, every company needs to be aware of the technology gap within society. Organizations have to be aware of their responsibility in closing this gap because people who cannot afford technology are being left behind. This should not happen if we want society to evolve. 

Behaviors also changed due to technology during the pandemic. People no longer want to go to the office and technology is allowing them to do this. We need to understand that future generations will rely on technology for work, business and education, among other areas.  

Q: How have the past four years affected technological development and what are the main factors that have led to these changes? 

A: The hybrid work model is here to stay. However, collaboration happens when individuals are present and share ideas. Organizations need to create experiences in the office that bring people together. We have to figure out what experiences our associates want and what do these experiences mean for them. We also have to be aware that up to four generations are collaborating in offices and we need to understand the different needs and desires of each one.

We are also perceiving a big security risk as more things are being driven by technology. Every company and household needs to be aware of these security threats because people behind these threats are becoming technology experts. For that reason, HP has one of the most secure printers and PCs in the world. 

We are also focusing on sustainability. Older generations failed to leave a better planet for the new generations but we now have the opportunity to implement sustainable practices. Big companies have to adopt sustainable practices if we want to reverse the planet’s deterioration.

Q: HP seeks to pair technology with a sustainable approach. What is the company’s vision in this regard? 

A: We are a technology company that aims to be the most sustainable and fair company in the world. We need to do that not only because it is the right thing to do but also because customers are evolving and demanding it. One of our objectives is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and in 2040, we want to be net zero. Our other objective is for 75 percent of our products to use recycled packaging. We are at about 21 percent and in the future, all our packaging will be made of recycled materials that come from sustainable sources and circular economy activities. We are also focusing on reforestation. Since 2021, we have not used any paper that is not certified or that does not come from reliable sources. 

Our manufacturing operation in Brazil recycles materials, plastics mainly, from local associations. We decompose plastics to create pellets that are used in PCs, laptops and printers. We are the only company in Latin America that is boosting the circular economy around plastics. Last year, we partnered with the nonprofit Conservation International to reforest part of the Amazon  River in Brazil and Colombia. We also partnered with local communities and provided them training in reforestation and environmental education. 

Q: What sustainability initiatives is HP deploying in Mexico?

A: In Mexico, we are driven by the Planet Partner vision, taking old printing cartridges and transforming them into new products. Mexico was one of our first Planet Partners outside of the US and, although we have been doing this in Mexico for the past 20 years, not everyone is aware of that. 

We are also implementing HP Life, which is a series of training programs for vulnerable groups, such as women, in entrepreneurship or finance, among other fields. Our vision comprises real actions that support our corporate goals. This year, we published an impact report so the public can track what we are doing regarding sustainability. 

Q: What was HP’s strategy to face the supply chain disruptions caused by microchip shortages?

A: Nobody was prepared for the technological demand that the pandemic caused, which created complex problems because technology companies use mature technologies that commonly do not experience sudden growth in demand. Component manufacturers were not prepared to cope with the sharp increase in demand. Manufacturing plans for microchips cannot be built in one month and investment in them is only made when there is certainty that demand will continue in the future. 

Most of this technology is produced in China due to the manufacturing cost advantage but the pandemic complicated production. Logistics also became a problem. Once the chip shortage was solved and factories opened, there was not enough capacity to ship products by sea or air. Simultaneously, the cost of fuel increased. This scenario taught us that relying on low-cost supply chains is a bad idea. We are changing our approach by focusing on having a resilient supply chain. We are in better shape regarding demand and we have to ensure that we have the right strategy as we do not know what will happen in the future.

Q: What role does Mexico play in HP’s operations?

A: We have a global center of excellence in Guadalajara with about 2,500 employees, making it one of our largest support operations. In August 2022, HP bought Poly and inherited its 3,500 employees in Tijuana. We now have many talented people and the country has become a hub of innovation for us. 

Q: What are HP’s priorities in Mexico and what role does the company want to play in the technification of the country? 

A: Our goal is to continue being the largest technology company in Mexico, while putting the customer at the center of everything we do.  There are many touch points through the life cycle of a product or a service and we need to ensure that we excel in all of them. This does not stop when we sell the product or service because we want to ensure that we have customers for life.

HP is a US multinational based in California that develops personal computers, printers, 3D printing solutions and other computing accessories.