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HP INDIGO DIGITAL PRESSESPrinting with the Environment in Mind

Executive SummaryHP environmental commitmentHP has been a leader in environmental stewardshipfor decades, and efforts to innovate and design forthe environment represent a long-standing commitmentrather than a recent trend.In 2009, HP topped Newsweek’s first Green Rankingsof the 500 largest US companies(1) based on researchand analysis of the company’s actual environmentalperformance and reputation. HP has also been rankedfirst on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List for 2010compiled by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.Today, under the HP Eco-solutions programme, HPtakes a comprehensive approach to designing productswith the environment in mind. This begins with carefulplanning in their design and extends to the materialsused in the manufacturing process, right down tothe product’s ”afterlife,” where many convenient andresponsible recycling options for equipment andprinting consumables are offered.HP Indigo presses and the environmentHP Indigo presses feature a range of technologiesthat reduce paper waste, energy usage andconsumables consumption, and assist print serviceproviders (PSPs) in achieving environmental andhuman health-related standards and certifications.Furthermore, there is a growing infrastructure fortake-back and reuse or recycling of consumables,and even the presses themselves.For PSPs, taking a more sustainable approach toprinting is increasingly recognised not just as goodpractice, but as good business. Selecting the rightprinting solution can play an important role in helpinga PSP improve the environmental profile ofits operations and of its printed output.These developments, and the very nature of digitalon-demand printing – that enables the printing ofjust what is needed, when and where it is required –can help PSPs and their print-buying customers meettheir own sustainability objectives.

A history of global citizenshipFor more than fifty years, environmental responsibilityhas been part of HP’s corporate culture.With a long-established track record for environmentalawareness and action, HP strives to integrate globalcitizenship practices into core business functionsbacked by public reporting and strong performance.Global Citizenship at HP encompasses corporateaccountability and governance, environmentalresponsibility and a commitment to communityinvestment and involvement. HP has rigorousprocesses in place to ensure its own compliance toestablished standards of responsible manufacturing,and has been widely acknowledged for its efforts.HP topped Newsweek’s first Green Rankings of the500 largest US companies based on research andanalysis of the company’s actual environmentalperformance and reputation. HP has also been rankedfirst on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List for 2010compiled by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.HP Eco-solutions for printingHP places considerable focus on the environmentalprofile of its own operations and supply chain andis committed to being the most environmentallyresponsible IT company in terms of energy efficiency,resource conservation and end-of-life take-back andrecycling programmes.HP also designs its products to strict ‘Design forEnvironment’ criteria with an emphasis placed onhelping customers reduce the environmental impact oftheir printing, be it through reduced wastage of mediaor consumables, reduced consumption of energy orthrough programmes to take-back printing hardwareand used consumables, often for recycling or reuse.Responsible manufacturing for HP Indigopresses and consumablesHP Indigo is committed to conducting its business inan environmentally responsible manner and aims forcontinual improvement in the environmental profile ofits operations. Examples of this commitment include: All manufacturing facilities are ISO 14001 certified HP ElectroInk manufacturing site in Singapore iscertified as a Sony Green Partner The energy required to manufacture each inkcartridge has been reduced by18 percent between2008 and 2009 A 430m2 solar panel array provides energy at theink manufacturing plant in Kiryat Gat, IsraelHP Indigo environmental advances1993 – Starting from the first model, all HP Indigo presses incorporate a system to capture andcondense imaging oil vapour into a liquid1997 – Press reconditionings begin, significantly extending press lifetime2006 – Introduction of water-based primers as a suitable alternative to solvent-based ones– Dedicated press reconditioning line established2007 – The HP Indigo press 5500 includes an on-press oil recycling system that reduces the overalluse of imaging oil by 50 percent2008 – The HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press requires up to 30 percent less energy per printed pagethan its predecessor2009 – The HP Indigo WS6000 Digital Press is the first industrial digital press with an oil recyclingsystem. Binary Ink Developer take-back and parts re-use programme initiated2010 – The HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press improved on-press oil recycling system designed toeliminate the need for additional imaging oil.(2)– The HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press requires up to10 percent less energy per printed pagethan the HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press(3)

Going green - good business; good practiceToday’s print buyers are making increasinglysophisticated demands of the PSPs with which theywork. These regard both the environmental profileof the prints that they purchase and the processesand technologies used to produce them. Often thecompanies they represent – especially internationalbrands – may have established their own formalprint buying criteria. Frequently, these cite relevant,respected environmental certifications such as ForestryStewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certificationfor paper or, the Nordic Ecolabel for the PSPthemselves.For a PSP, being able to demonstrate that prints of acomparable price and quality to those from competitorshave a better environmental profile can be a powerfulpoint of differentiation and can help them to secureadditional business.In addition, taking measures to reduce media wastage,cut energy bills, bring down waste disposal chargesand address other environment-related costs can addup to significant savings.Leaders and laggards“The leading green printers are stepping upto these (green) practices pro-actively, andgaining market position as a result. Eventually,however, all printers will have to take up manyof these green practices, whether because oflegislative requirements or customer demand.The laggards will have to bear all of this cost,but without any of the marketing benefit.”Sustainable Print in A Dynamic Global Market:What Going Green Means, Pira, 2009Selecting the right printing solution can play animportant role in helping a PSP to improve theenvironmental profile of its operations and of itsprinted output.Furthermore, taking a more sustainable approach toprinting can boost employee engagement and helpto prepare for future legislation.The improved on-press oil recycling system of the HPIndigo 7500 Digital Press is designed to eliminatethe need for additional imaging oil.(4)Vapour HoodInk AdditivesFor Special Colours(e.g., spot colours)

Perception of the printing industry’s carbonfootprintLowering the carbon footprint with digitalprintingHP conducted an analysis of the carbon footprint ofthe world printing industry for its presentation to theIEEE International Symposium on Sustainable Systemsand Technology, 2009.(5)With digital printing, no plates need to be prepared,no chemical processing or disposal is required, andonce a simple pre-flight has been carried out on thedigital files, printing can begin – with the first copybeing saleable. Colour and register are immediatelyachieved, saving potentially significant quantities ofpaper.(9)The global carbon footprint for printing (excludingpackaging) for 2020 was calculated as either 370 or850 million tonnes of CO2e(6), based on two differentmethodologies for calculation. While paper accountsfor about 70 percent of those totals, moving fromanalogue to digital printing can produce a variety ofbenefits both in terms of environmental impact andbusiness efficiency because of the significant papersavings made in make-ready and in printing onlywhat is required.Today, about 88 percent of print is producedby conventional, analogue methods (offset litho,flexography, gravure, letterpress, screen, etc.),(7)but the advantages of digital printing, in terms ofboth environmental impact and good business, areincreasingly compelling.Conventional printing has been based on longruns and “unit cost,” models. While superficiallyan efficient model, even today, after majorimprovements in technologies for plate-making,consumables consumption and control ofhazardous materials, the legacy “unit cost”model still dominates. This model, which promotesincreased print volumes because of the lower“unit cost” leads to printing more copies than areneeded: increased shipping and storage costs,and, ultimately, increased waste disposal costs.For example, a survey of the US book industry(8)showed that 25 percent of books are returnedunsold. Similar waste occurs in other areas of print.Set-up and make-ready is another leading factorin reducing profitability and generating waste. Inaddition to the environmental impact of plate-making,make-ready, registration, colour adjustment, etc., canrequire hundreds of sheets before the first page ofusable output.HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press’s recycling systemfurther reduces oil consumptionThe HP Indigo press 5500 was the first to includean on-press imaging oil recycling system. During theprinting process, oil is separated from the image byevaporation. The oil vapour is drawn into a coolerwhere it condenses, along with water from theambient air.The oil recycling system separates the oil from thewater. The oil is pumped into the imaging oil tankand combined with ink additives (if needed). Therecycled oil is then fed back into the press and isready for use in the printing process, reducingimaging oil consumed by approximately 50 percent.The water generated during the separation processis normally clean enough to qualify for disposal viacustomers’ facility drainage systems.A similar system is also featured on the new seriespresses: The HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press, the HPIndigo WS6000 Digital Press and the HP IndigoW7200 Digital Press are equipped with recyclingsystems.The new HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press features amore advanced version system that is still moreefficient and eliminates the need to add imagingoil to the press.(10)