Hewlett-Packard Australia and the NSW Government have announced a three year agreement which will involve HP implementing green practices across its all of its Australian operations, including product take-back and recycling.

Touted as HP’s first ever sustainability compact agreement, the contract commits NSW and HP for three years to advance sustainability practices across HP’s facilities, operations and supply chain, and to seek out and promote sustainability opportunities across the NSW Government and community.

Paul Brandling, managing director, HP Australia, said, “Apart from being a first for the NSW Government, this compact is also the first partnership of its kind for HP globally. HP Australia is extremely proud to be undertaking such a landmark commitment.

“Today’s Compact represents a new and innovative approach to environmental performance, from both government and industry.  The Compact promotes ‘best practice’ in sustainability from both parties, which means a better outcome for the community as a whole. This is shared responsibility in action, which is exactly how we want to be operating.”

In signing the compact HP and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) are jointly committing to:
·        Strategic sustainability planning and reporting
·        Staff and other stakeholder involvement in environmental planning, training and project delivery  
·        Product stewardship programs for IT product take-back relating to computer hardware, printer supplies (consumables) and packaging
·        Environmentally preferable IT purchasing by consumers, business and government
·        Enhanced environmental performance of HP and DEC sites and operations, including resource efficiency, waste avoidance and recovery and other aspects of facilities management

A steering committee will be established to manage the implementation of the compact and to formally review progress on an annual basis. An independent evaluation of the Compact’s success will be completed in 2008, when the compact will also be open for renewal following agreement by both parties.