HP Wins $8M Contract to Supply IT Products for COP16

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HP has been selected to provide more than $8 million worth of technology solutions for the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16), Nov. 29 to Dec. 10 in Cancun, Mexico. The Mexican federal government, which will host the conference through the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, selected HP due to the company’s long-term commitment to environmental sustainability. Other factors included ease of integration, breadth of portfolio, and price.

"HP's innovative low-carbon solutions are a key factor in helping us to minimize the carbon footprint of COP16. These technologies will enable participation from stakeholders around the globe and optimize the use of public resources," says Julio Camarena, under secretary for Management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, in a statement.

Under the agreement, HP will provide a host of IT products including EPEAT Gold notebook and desktop PCs, Energy Star-rated printers, data center and networking equipment, and supplies. The Government of Mexico also plans to continue to use these products after the conference.

HP will supply desktop systems that will offer high-definition video communications no matter where the attendee is. These visual collaboration solutions will be available for use by participants to help reduce travel-related carbon emissions for COP16.

By avoiding car and air travel through the use of HP visual collaboration solutions, net emissions reduction of 226 metric tons of CO2 per solution can be achieved annually, says HP. This includes the estimated emissions from manufacturing and use of the visual collaboration studio, which are only a fraction of the possible emissions reductions.

HP's overall product engineering strategy includes a focus on energy efficiency, materials innovation and design for recyclability. As an example, the company recently pledged to use a total of 100 million pounds of recycled plastic in printing products by 2011 (cumulatively, since 2007).

HP, along with Samsung and Lenovo, also made the biggest strides in developing “green” products, according to the latest update of the Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics.

Environment + Energy Leader