Abstract

HP, which had a portfolio of information technology products and services that addressed the needs of consumers and businesses, had won many accolades in the 21st century for its corporate environmental responsibility. The company had taken various environment-friendly initiatives in the areas of chemicals management in product design, reducing the carbon footprint of its operations, bringing innovations in energy-efficient solutions for its customers, establishing a vast network for recycling of various categories of products, and finally, making its supply chain actively participate in the company’s environmental sustainability commitment. However, as of 2008, HP was reported to be lagging behind a few leading companies (in technology and consumer goods sectors) in its efforts toward mitigating climate change. Given its legacy of responsible leadership in the industry with respect to environmental sustainability, should HP strive to gain the top slot in its efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change?

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Energy efficiency of worldwide operations toward a ‘low carbon economy’
• Environ-mental sustainability as a business opportunity
• Political advocacy and involvement of external stakeholders in climate change mitigation
• and Corporate governance to address climate change concerns.

Keywords

Energy efficiency, Carbon footprint, Global warming, Climate change, Corporate governance, Emissions accounting, Political advocacy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, Greenpeace, Ceres, HP's Eco Solutions, CO2 emissions, Renewable energy, Greenhouse gas (GHG) Protocol, Energy Star, Power to Change program, Supply Chain Social and Environmental Responsibility