Publish date: 23.04.24

In the digital age, where the push for sustainability is more critical than ever, companies are reimagining their roles in preserving the planet and looking at every single area of their business to make improvements.

One of the forerunners in helping people make small changes with a big green impact is HP. HP are a global leader in technology and printing solutions, renowned not only for their technical innovation but also for their commitment to environmental stewardship which dates back decades.

At the heart of its sustainability initiatives lies HP Planet Partners, a program that has revolutionised the way we recycle used supplies – all at no cost to the customer – since 1991 (with other technology recycling initiatives dating all the way back to 1966!).

The Birth of HP Planet Partners

HP Planet Partners emerged from a growing need to address the environmental impact of printing technology. Recognising the staggering amount of electronic waste generated annually, HP set out to create a closed-loop system that would minimise waste and promote the circular economy. Thus, HP Planet Partners was born, with a mission to make responsible disposal of ink and toner cartridges as easy as possible for consumers and businesses.

All consumers had to do was put used cartridges back in their original packaging, apply a prepaid shipping label provided by Hewlett-Packard and give the package to UPS. By 2008, the company had achieved a “closed loop” for its toner plastics. The plastic from their returned cartridges was combined with recycled bottle resin and moulded into new cartridges whose content was 70 to 100 percent recycled plastic.

The Circular Economy in Action

Central to HP Planet Partners is the concept of the circular economy, where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value from them while in use, then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of each service life. Through thi s model, HP aims to reduce waste, conserve resources, and mitigate environmental impact.

The process begins with consumers and businesses participating in the program by returning used HP ink and toner cartridges. These cartridges are then sorted and disassembled, with components recycled to create new products. By reclaiming materials such as plastic and metal, HP minimizes the need for virgin resources, thus lowering carbon emissions and energy consumption associated with manufacturing.


Environmental Impact and Sustainability

HP Planet Partners’ impact on sustainability cannot be overstated. By diverting millions of cartridges from landfills each year, HP has significantly reduced electronic waste and its associated environmental harm. Furthermore, the program contributes to resource conservation, with recycled materials incorporated into new products, effectively closing the loop on material consumption.

Moreover, HP’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond recycling. The company continually strives to innovate greener technologies, designing printers with energy-efficient features and utilising eco-friendly materials in product construction. Through these efforts, HP not only reduces its ecological footprint but also sets industry standards for environmentally responsible practices.


More than 5.8 billion
Recycled plastic bottles have been used by HP to manufacture new Original HP Ink Cartridges.

More than 1 billion
Original HP Ink and Toner Cartridges have been recycled by customers with HP Planet Partners.

More than 149 million
Plastic hangers have been used by HP to manufacture new Original HP Ink and Toner Cartridges.


Helping Businesses to Hit Sustainability Targets (for free)

One of the most remarkable aspects of HP Planet Partners is its accessibility. The program makes it effortless for consumers and businesses to participate in sustainable practices, offering convenient cartridge return options such as drop-off locations and prepaid shipping labels. This accessibility allows individuals and businesses to take an active role in preserving the environment.

Furthermore, HP provides transparency throughout the recycling process, allowing participants to track the journey of their returned cartridges and witness firsthand the impact of their actions. This transparency builds trust and confidence in the IT industry’s sustainability efforts, inspiring greater engagement and participation across the board.


The myth: remanufactured cartridges are better for the environment

On the face of it, refilled or remanufactured cartridges sound like good environmental sense, but according to studies, 90% of the ink and toner cartridges sold from the remanufacturers surveyed will ultimately be thrown away because most remanufacturers fail to collect their own products.

Even if you return an empty cartridge to a remanufacturer, there’s no guarantee it will be kept out of a landfill. In fact, a 2011 study found that remanufacturers surveyed throw away 40% of the toner cartridges and parts and 35% of the ink cartridges and parts that they collect but find unusable. When tested against non-HP remanufactured or cloned cartridges, it was found that Original HP toner cartridges exhibited no failures compared to an average of 41.7% of 216 non-HP cartridges.

Furthermore, 87 cartridges of the 216 non-HP toner cartridges had 50% or more pages that were unacceptable for any business purpose or were only fit for internal use. During testing, Original HP LaserJet toner cartridges demonstrated solid toner adhesion, while pages printed using non-HP toner cartridges had issues with bonding to the paper. Simply put, it means that the use of non-HP remanufactured or cloned cartridges gives rise to escalated costs of printing, supplies and maintenance – in addition to the operational downtime and easily avoidable waste of resources like power, paper and other raw materials, which together have a negative impact on the environment.

It reinforces the belief that using Original HP print cartridges ensures consistently high print quality and trouble-free performance. In contrast to the transparency of HP’s Planet Partners Programme, it’s also difficult to measure the environmental performance of remanufacturers: not one of the remanufacturers surveyed by InfoTrends provided any public reporting of their recycling activities.

Remanufacturers were also unaware of what happened to waste after they’d passed it on. They seem to collect and remanufacture the cartridges they can and throw away what remains after the cartridge remanufacturing process is complete. HP does not offer remanufactured print cartridges because they do not meet our quality and reliability standards

Instead, the HP Planet Partners Programme recycles collected HP print cartridges to recover raw materials or energy. All Original HP print cartridges returned to HP through Planet Partners go through a multi-phase recycling process where they are reduced to raw materials that can then be used to make new metal and plastic products. These include new HP print cartridges, auto parts, roof tiles, microchip processing trays and parts of some other HP products. Alternatively, they are recovered for energy. Additionally, the packaging for HP LaserJet toner cartridges and HP ink cartridges, is made of recycled content paperboard, instead of PVC plastic.

If you buy an Original HP print cartridge you can rest assured that HP will never send cartridges returned through the Planet Partners Programme to a landfill.


A Vision for the Future

As environmental concerns continue to escalate, the importance of initiatives like HP Planet Partners only grows HP remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainability, constantly seeking new ways to innovate. Whether through advancing recycling technologies, developing greener products, or advocating for systemic change, HP sets a precedent for responsible corporate citizenship and environmental stewardship.

In essence, HP Planet Partners represents more than just a recycling program; it embodies a vision for a more sustainable future. By harnessing the power of innovation and collaboration, HP demonstrates that businesses can be drivers of positive change

HP Planet Partners epitomises the intersection of technology, sustainability, and corporate responsibility, showcasing the profound impact that businesses can have on shaping a more sustainable world. HP continues to pave the way towards a brighter, greener future—one cartridge at a time.