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How Dell and HP could learn from each other

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Transport fumes
Photo Credit aplumb

I received a press release from HP the other day informing me that HP have

qualified all business PC, printing and server products shipped throughout the United States and Canada for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay logo labeling program

Perhaps the SmartWay program is well known within the United States but I hadn’t heard of it before so I went to the SmartWay site to have a look.

From the site’s basic information page:

The SmartWay brand identifies products and services that reduce transportation-related emissions. However, the impact of the brand is much greater as the SmartWay brand signifies a partnership among government, business and consumers to protect our environment, reduce fuel consumption, and improve our air quality for future generations.

The site links to the EPS’a Green Vehicle Guide which allows you to compare the fuel efficiency across hundreds of different car models.

However the real meat is in the Smartway Transport section of the site. This is a

collaboration between EPA and the freight sector designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, and improve energy security

So responsible haulage companies can join the Smartway program and get help in becoming more efficient and Smartway certified (joining Smartway is free). Smartway certification then means that as well as reducing costs, responsible shipping companies will pick up extra business from companies like HP who are looking to have a greener supply chain.

However, if HP really wanted to show its commitment to Green they could announce their intention to become a carbon neutral company, as Dell has done.

On the other hand, Dell could take a leaf from HP’s book and also receive approval from the EPA to have the SmartWay logo displayed on its product packaging for the compliance of its shipping network. You are only as Green as your supply chain after all!

[Disclosure – Dell are a GreenMonk client company]

Comments

  1. Bob says

    It would be interesting if the various blogs discussing Dell’s going carbon neutral would also discuss how they got there. HP is not interested in paying some country to maintain a forest to be “neutral,” but is committed to the long slog of reducing carbon in our products and operations through major research and development throughout the company. But, I must admit, HP could learn from Dell’s PR team.

  2. says

    Bob,

    When I blogged about Dell going carbon neutral (http://greenmonk.net/dell-claims-carbon-neutrality-5-months-ahead-of-schedule/) I did mention how they did it.

    Specifically I mentioned:

    1. recycled 102 million pounds of IT equipment from customers during 2007, a 20 percent increase over 2006
    2. became the first major computer manufacturer to offer desktop customers Silver 80 PLUS-certified power supplies
    3. the company’s laptops and desktops, already among the industry’s most energy-efficient, are being designed to consume up to 25 percent less energy by 2010 relative to systems offered today and
    4. The company’s carbon intensity (CO2 emissions/revenue) is among the lowest of the Fortune 50 and less than half that of its closest competitor

    and they used

    an aggressive program to improve efficiencies in the company, purchasing green energy directly as well as renewable energy credits and verified emissions reductions

    Now, how about investing in sustainable reforestation projects as well as reducing carbon in your products and operations 😉

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