Earth Day 2021: Cisco, HP Commit to Fight Climate Change

With Thursday marking Earth Day, both Cisco and HP Inc. have announced significant measures to tackle climate change.

Cisco has committed $100 million over 10 years to help reverse the impact of climate change. It will focus on technology-based solutions, greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon reduction, climate resilience, green jobs and more.

The funding by the Cisco Foundation will support nonprofit grants and investments in climate solutions, community education and activation.

Cisco’s Peter Tavernise

Peter Tavernise, executive director of the Cisco Foundation, said it will support “early-stage, technology-based solutions with the potential to scale and be sustainable.”

Cisco says it has achieved 100% renewable energy in several countries around the world. It also claims to be on track to use electricity generated from renewable sources for at least 85% of Cisco’s global electricity in 2022.

Elsewhere, Cisco says it aims to design 100% of new products and packaging to incorporate circular design principles by 2025.

HP Cutting Emissions Across Value Chain

HP, meanwhile, has made its own commitment on to slow down climate change. It has announced what it says are “some of the most aggressive and comprehensive climate goals in the technology industry.”

Chief among the goals is aiming for net-zero GHG emissions across the HP value chain by 2040. This will start with its supply business becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

HP also announced it will transform its print business from a transactional model to a services model. Furthermore, the company will seek to reduce the carbon footprint of its company and its products. It will start to transition supplies by launching HP Instant Ink with Planet Partners pilot, enabling multiple life cycles for original HP Supplies. This pilot – rolling out in Germany in May – will help customers decrease virgin plastic used and diminish waste. It will allow HP Instant Ink subscribers to opt-in to receive renewed and replenished cartridges.

The vendor says the targets are aligned with U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

HP Inc. president and CEO Enrique Lores said now is a time for bold moves. He said the targets “will advance HP’s aspiration to become the world’s most sustainable and just technology company.”

HP is also committing to:

Sustainability Sells

In February, HP introduced a sustainable impact programme for partners “to extend impact on climate change, human rights and digital divide.”

Crucial for channel partners is that sustainability sells. In 2020, HP says it won more than $1 billion in new sales where sustainability was a consideration in the deal.

Figures from IDC show that almost 60% of organisations in Europe now include sustainability objectives into requests for proposal (RFP).

Two in five (41%) companies want help from their IT service partners to incorporate sustainability targets into products, services and solutions they deliver. Three in five (60%) see them as playing a crucial role in helping them achieve their sustainability goals.

Broadvoice

Cisco and HP are among a number of technology companies contributing to the Earth Day cause in some way. Broadvoice is another.

Broadvoice’s Marisa Freeden

The unified communications and collaboration provider on Thursday announced a partnership with human-I-T, a nonprofit that focuses on reducing e-waste. The company also works to close the digital divide.

The team-up means Broadvoice customers and partners can recycle and donate technology they no longer use. All donations are tax deductible.

“We are excited to provide our customers and partners a resource that not only helps the environment, but more importantly gets technology to people in communities who need it, creating equity and opportunity for families, schools, and businesses across the country,” said Marisa Freeden, vice president of brand and experience at Broadvoice.