317
© The Author(s) 2016
R. Clift, A. Druckman (eds.), Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-20571-7_17
Chapter 17
Multinational Corporations and the Circular
Economy: How Hewlett Packard Scales
Innovation and Technology in Its Global
Supply Chain
Kirstie McIntyre and John A. Ortiz
Abstract Hewlett Packard discusses how companies can move from the conceptual ambiguity of the circular economy to operational reality. The development of
the circular economy concept is described, in particular the extension from resource
effi ciency: the importance of moving from the idea of ‘consumers’ to ‘users’.
Transitioning from a linear economy to a circular one will require disruptive innovation. For more than 30 years, HP technologies have led large scale changes in a
wide range of markets. We describe how HP is designing products and services
which meet and enable circular economy applications. The examples demonstrate
how a major multinational company like HP can build on its long-held resource
effi ciency principles to profi tably drive industry forward in the circular economy. It
is clear that the ‘new style of IT’ enables many future and current circular economy
initiatives, from car sharing; community garden/power tool sharing and developing
further connections between networks – i.e. the ‘sharing economy’. The ‘internet of
things’ has huge potential to retain and grow control over dispersed resources.
Through collaborative technologies and partnerships, and by engaging the innovation potential of others, HP looks to lead the proliferation of full system solutions
that can allow inventors and communities to design and innovate surpassing what
can be imagined today.
Keywords Hewlett Packard • Circular economy • Up-cycling • Closed loop plastic
manufacturing • Recycled content plastic • Servicization • 3D printing
K. McIntyre (*) • J. A. Ortiz
Hewlett Packard , Bracknell RG121HN , UK
e-mail: kirstie.mcintyre@hp.com
© The Author(s) 2016
R. Clift, A. Druckman (eds.), Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-20571-7_17
Chapter 17
Multinational Corporations and the Circular
Economy: How Hewlett Packard Scales
Innovation and Technology in Its Global
Supply Chain
Kirstie McIntyre and John A. Ortiz
Abstract Hewlett Packard discusses how companies can move from the conceptual ambiguity of the circular economy to operational reality. The development of
the circular economy concept is described, in particular the extension from resource
effi ciency: the importance of moving from the idea of ‘consumers’ to ‘users’.
Transitioning from a linear economy to a circular one will require disruptive innovation. For more than 30 years, HP technologies have led large scale changes in a
wide range of markets. We describe how HP is designing products and services
which meet and enable circular economy applications. The examples demonstrate
how a major multinational company like HP can build on its long-held resource
effi ciency principles to profi tably drive industry forward in the circular economy. It
is clear that the ‘new style of IT’ enables many future and current circular economy
initiatives, from car sharing; community garden/power tool sharing and developing
further connections between networks – i.e. the ‘sharing economy’. The ‘internet of
things’ has huge potential to retain and grow control over dispersed resources.
Through collaborative technologies and partnerships, and by engaging the innovation potential of others, HP looks to lead the proliferation of full system solutions
that can allow inventors and communities to design and innovate surpassing what
can be imagined today.
Keywords Hewlett Packard • Circular economy • Up-cycling • Closed loop plastic
manufacturing • Recycled content plastic • Servicization • 3D printing
K. McIntyre (*) • J. A. Ortiz
Hewlett Packard , Bracknell RG121HN , UK
e-mail: kirstie.mcintyre@hp.com