319
earlier each year (considered to be August 19th in 2014) (Global Footprint Network
2014 ). For HP, the Circular Economy encompasses a system that is restorative or
regenerative by intention with design that eliminates waste. As an alternative to the
linear approach (take, make, use, discard), HP believes that connecting circular
economy principles to resource effi ciency is the route to success.
Resource effi ciency is important to a global scale manufacturer like HP. We cannot abandon our ‘design for environment’ principles of:
1. Energy effi ciency – reducing the energy needed to manufacture and use
products
2. Materials innovation – decreasing the amount of materials used and selecting
materials with lower environmental impact
3. Design for recyclability – designing equipment that has more value at end-oflife, is easier to upgrade and/or recycle.
(HP 2014a ).
However, HP also understands the need for disruptive innovation to break
through the limits of linear resource consumption models, irrespective of how effi -
cient we become with the materials, energy, water and other resources we use.
2 Why Innovation in Circular Economy Is Important
Three main areas have emerged which have brought this opportunity into sharp
focus:
1. Trends furthering the case for resource effi ciency include:
(a) Risk factors around resource availability and price volatility
(b) Increased public opinion and government regulation concerning environmental and social issues
2. The opinion that traditional resource effi ciency measures are insuffi cient to
address current resource challenges
3. The alignment of conditions which will allow for the rapid diffusion of the circular economy such as:
(a) The introduction of policies and regulations of governments around the
world that support and promote the circular economy
(b) Changing customer/consumer attitudes and other societal shifts that are
essential for the diffusion of circular economy
(c) The advancement of information technologies and other technologies which
drastically increase the feasibility of circular economy.
Each of these drivers will be discussed in turn:
17 Multinational Corporations and the Circular Economy: How Hewlett Packard…
earlier each year (considered to be August 19th in 2014) (Global Footprint Network
2014 ). For HP, the Circular Economy encompasses a system that is restorative or
regenerative by intention with design that eliminates waste. As an alternative to the
linear approach (take, make, use, discard), HP believes that connecting circular
economy principles to resource effi ciency is the route to success.
Resource effi ciency is important to a global scale manufacturer like HP. We cannot abandon our ‘design for environment’ principles of:
1. Energy effi ciency – reducing the energy needed to manufacture and use
products
2. Materials innovation – decreasing the amount of materials used and selecting
materials with lower environmental impact
3. Design for recyclability – designing equipment that has more value at end-oflife, is easier to upgrade and/or recycle.
(HP 2014a ).
However, HP also understands the need for disruptive innovation to break
through the limits of linear resource consumption models, irrespective of how effi -
cient we become with the materials, energy, water and other resources we use.
2 Why Innovation in Circular Economy Is Important
Three main areas have emerged which have brought this opportunity into sharp
focus:
1. Trends furthering the case for resource effi ciency include:
(a) Risk factors around resource availability and price volatility
(b) Increased public opinion and government regulation concerning environmental and social issues
2. The opinion that traditional resource effi ciency measures are insuffi cient to
address current resource challenges
3. The alignment of conditions which will allow for the rapid diffusion of the circular economy such as:
(a) The introduction of policies and regulations of governments around the
world that support and promote the circular economy
(b) Changing customer/consumer attitudes and other societal shifts that are
essential for the diffusion of circular economy
(c) The advancement of information technologies and other technologies which
drastically increase the feasibility of circular economy.
Each of these drivers will be discussed in turn:
17 Multinational Corporations and the Circular Economy: How Hewlett Packard…