HP Press Release 17/03/04

HP expands inkjet print cartridge recycling programme to UK customers

- HP (NYSE: HPQ) today announces the expansion of its Inkjet print cartridge Return and Recycling Programme to consumers in the UK. From May 1st, they will be able to conveniently return their HP Inkjet print cartridges for recycling. The programme will allow home offices and households in UK to recycle approximately 1.5 million HP Inkjet print cartridges by 2005.

Recycling has been made as convenient as possible for today?s busy consumers. Initially, pre-paid in-box envelopes will be supplied with two of the most popular HP inkjet print cartridges: HP No. 56 black print cartridge and HP No. 57 tri-colour print cartridge. For other print cartridges, customers can order free pre-paid envelopes online at www.hp.com/recycle.

This programme is already in place in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Further expansion of the programme is planned by HP in 2004. By 2005, 14 million HP Inkjet print cartridges are expected to be returned and recycled.

Pradeep Jotwani, HP Senior Vice-President Worldwide Supplies in the Imaging and Printing Group, explains, ?With this programme, HP brings its award winning Planet PartnersTM recycling scheme to customers in major markets throughout the world.?

As a recognised leader in environmental stewardship, HP began providing end-of-life solutions for its original print cartridges in 1991, starting with a LaserJet print cartridge Return and Recycling programme for both businesses and individual consumers. Since its inception, the Planet Partners Programme? has facilitated the recycling of more than 70 million print cartridges.

?Expansion of HP?s current Planet Partners? Return and Recycling Programme further demonstrates our commitment to the environment,? explaines Kim Holm, Vice-President and General Manager, HP IPG Supplies EMEA. ?We apply the same high standards to recycling as we do to developing and producing print cartridges. We first started research into recycling Inkjet print cartridges in 1997, and have been working with regulatory bodies and recycling specialists to perfect the EMEA return process, as well as the science of recycling inkjet print cartridges.?

All HP inkjet print cartridges returned from European countries are recycled in Germany. For almost 2 years, this faciity has been recycling HP inkjet print cartridges received through the current programme from HP?s commercial customers.  Returned HP print cartridges are processed so that the plastic and metal components can be recovered for use in new products.

?HP?s leadership in environmental stewardship goes far beyond recycling and waste minimisation,? says Kim Holm. ?Our approach is based upon carefully aligning all aspects of a product lifecycle: from development and design, through manufacturing and distribution, to use and end of life.?

This commitment has been recognized through a number of awards to HP, including the Ecohitech Product Award, German Blue Angel environmental label, Energy Star and Green Cross Millennium Award.

About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. For the fiscal year ending on Oct. 31, 2003, HP revenue totaled $73.1 billion. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.