PALO ALTO, Calif. -- HP today announced it has expanded its environmental sustainability efforts with HP Indigo digital presses to meet increased demand for solutions designed to reduce waste while enhancing productivity and profitability.

Building on HP's commitment to customer success, the HP Graphics Solutions Business is now offering several tools and programs, including:

•    a revised HP Indigo media guide that includes the growing number of recycled-content papers and papers that have earned third-party certification for sustainability initiatives

•    a new take-back and recycling program for user-replaceable binary ink developer (BID) parts.

Revised media guide

The HP Indigo media guide lists the more than 1,800 total media that have been certified as HP Indigo-compatible. This includes more than 600 media that have a third-party sustainability-related certification, such as Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Chain of Custody. Fifty-five percent of the listed media containing these types of third-party certifications are recycled-content papers. Overall, the number of HP Indigo-qualified media that have recycled content and/or a third-party sustainability certification grew by 30 percent between 2007 and 2008.

"From high-profile communication papers to everyday house stock, HP Indigo customers can choose from a wide range of recycled-content papers, environmentally accredited papers, and papers made or subsidized by alternate energy sources," said Alon Bar-Shany, vice president and general manager, Indigo division, HP. "Global responsibility is a core HP initiative, and we are committed to increasing the number of compatible media aligned with this strategy as well as to enhancing efficiency and decreasing waste associated with HP products."

Four preferred media partners have contributed significantly to the growth in third-party sustainability-related certification among the media used on HP Indigo presses, providing solutions for print service providers (PSPs) in North America to meet a wide variety of criteria.

•    Domtar is a participant in WWF's Global Forest & Trade Network, a collaborator with the Rainforest Alliance, and a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange, using nearly 80 percent renewable biomass energy for production. All HP Indigo media from Domtar is FSC and SFI certified.

•    GPA, a distributor with FSC credentials and a wide array of products that allow for distinct choices, offers papers made with 10 to 100 percent recycled content and FSC accreditations.

•    Mohawk Fine Papers offsets 100 percent of the emissions from the electricity it uses with Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates from windpower projects. Mohawk offers HP Indigo-certified papers that are also FSC and Green Seal certified, and papers made with as much as 100 percent post-consumer waste content.

•    Much of the energy NewPage uses comes from renewable biomass energy. NewPage manufactures products that are SFI and FSC certified, in addition to papers made with recycled fibers. One hundred percent of the fiber used in NewPage products is procured through third-party certified chain-of-custody systems, and originates from forests within North America.

HP, Finch and Moquin produce greener February Graphic Arts Monthly cover

HP's commitment to environmentally responsible media is currently being highlighted in the graphic arts industry. Through a joint sponsorship between HP and Finch Paper, an HP Indigo press printed 40,000 covers for this month's Graphic Arts Monthly magazine. The covers are printed on Finch Fine iD, an HP Indigo certified paper manufactured with two-thirds renewable energy (hydro power and biomass) made on-site. The paper also contains 10 percent post-consumer fiber and is FSC certified. Belmont, Calif.-based PSP Moquin Press produced the covers on its newly installed HP Indigo 7000.

Binary ink developer parts reuse program launched

On Feb. 15, the Indigo division of HP is beginning a new pilot program with select customers where HP will collect user-replaceable BIDs at no charge to the customer. BID parts will be cleaned, inspected and reconditioned for use in new BIDs for HP Indigo presses. Following the pilot program, HP anticipates extending BID reuse to the broader HP Indigo customer base by Q4.

The BID take-back and reuse program is a new addition to an extensive reconditioning program that significantly reduces machinery waste through full-press reconditioning of off-lease machines. HP sells its reconditioned presses as HP Indigo "r" series presses.

The HP Indigo division's new programs support an industry-wide initiative in the graphic arts and photofinishing industries to reduce waste and improve sustainability of printed communications. Presently, for example, up to 30 percent of book stock remains unsold and is eventually repulped.(1) Digital printing reduces waste related to print production in three key ways:

•    Digital on-demand printing reduces paper waste. PSPs' customers avoid obsolescence by printing only what they need, when they need it.

•    In direct mail and other marketing collateral applications, variable data printing and personalization lets marketers print fewer pieces while yielding higher returns.

•    Digital printing enables PSPs to avoid the waste associated with make-ready and change over between job runs in conventional printing.

Digital printing in the commercial printing, label printing and photofinishing industries can also significantly reduce chemical usage and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by eliminating conventional plate processing and silver halide processing.

HP Indigo systems and environmental responsibility

HP Indigo presses have been progressively engineered for reduction in waste and energy consumption. The HP Indigo 5500 and 7000 press models include an on-press oil recycling system that reduces the overall use of imaging oil by approximately 50 percent.(2) And, because of significant productivity enhancements, the HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press requires approximately 25 percent less electricity per printed page.(3)

The HP Indigo division's manufacturing environments are also designed to enhance efficiency and reduce power consumption in accordance with sustainability goals in effect for all of HP. In 2007, the HP Indigo division developed and implemented a new particle grinding process that reduces the energy required for manufacturing HP ElectroInk by 40 percent.

HP and the environment

For decades HP has been an environmental leader, driving company stewardship through its HP Eco Solutions program, which spans product design, reuse and recycling as well as energy and resource efficiency. HP influences industry action by setting high environmental standards in its operations and supply chain, by providing practical solutions to make it easier for customers to reduce their climate impact and through its research on sustainability solutions that support a low-carbon economy. More information is available at http://www.hp.com/ecosolutions.