Eleanor Milner
Media Assistant
November 22, 2022
November 22nd is Ocean of Plastics Awareness Day, a date dedicated to raising awareness on the negative impact plastics have on the environment. We’ve put together five tips to help you minimise your impact through sustainable technology.
Ocean Plastic Awareness
When is the last time you bought a plastic water bottle? Did you know that single use plastics can take up to 450 years to decompose? According to HP, 17.6 billon pounds of plastic waste spills into our oceans each year. The amount of plastic currently circulating in the ocean is reported to be the equivalent to the weight of 57,000 blue whales.
How is this damaging our oceans? The vast amount of plastic pollution entering oceans has a huge impact on the marine life – studies show that 90% of seabirds and 52% of all turtles on the planet have consumed plastic, and plastic may be in present the seafood we consume.
Ocean Plastic Awareness Day aims to shine a spotlight and educate more on the damage plastic can have on the ocean, showcasing how small changes can have a big impact when it comes to sustainability.
Technology is a huge contributor of plastic waste. Meaning, both individuals and organisations that make ethical technology choices can massively aid the fight against plastic pollution.
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1. Recycled Ink Cartridges
Every single printer cartridge uses around a gallon of oil for its production. Buying brand new ink increases the need for mining natural resources which produce greenhouse gases. The manufacture of a new cartridge uses 80% more energy than producing a cartridge using recycled components. Opting for a recycled alternative such as HP’s original HP ink cartridges can help decrease the impact they have on the environment, as well as helping to decrease your own carbon footprint.
HP original ink cartridges are produced from recycled plastic bottles that would have otherwise ended up polluting our oceans or landfills. Alongside having a positive impact on our plastic, HP’s recycling efforts have also helped create more sustainable jobs to communities in underdeveloped countries. The initiative has lead to a 60% reduce in fossil fuel consumption, 39% less water used and an average of 30% carbon footprint reduction.
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2. Supporting the Circular Economy
Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally each year, leaving a lot of the surplus plastic to find it’s way into our oceans. Supporting the circular economy can amplify efficiencies as well as reduce waste production by circulating and making use of products and materials already in use.
How can you help support the circular economy? Procuring products with a long lifespan through high-quality design, maintenance, upgrades and repair overall helps to reduce the energy needed to continue to replace and/or reproduce products. Organisations like HP aim to support the circular economy by using durable and reused materials in their technology production.
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3. Environmentally friendly devices
HP has a vast selection of laptops and PC’s that have been ethically produced using recycled and ocean-bound plastics. The production of the Pavilion family was estimated to keep around 92,000 plastic bottles out of the oceans and landfills, and since then HP have continued to produce laptops which are planet positive whilst meeting all of your device requirements.
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4. Sustainable technology accessories
When it comes to choosing technology accessories, we may be tempted to opt for the cheaper or more convenient option. However, HP’s range of Renew Accessories are all high-quality products made from recycled materials. For example, the HP Renew Tote is made from recycled plastic whilst still looking sleek and professional. Protecting your technology can also reduce the need to replace, helping it to last longer and decrease the demand for production.
5. Support ethically driven companies and brands
Choosing where and who you buy your technology from can impact your carbon footprint. Equipping yourself with ethical technology could help you meet sustainability goals while having a positive impact on the use of plastic.
At DTP, we are committed to become net zero by the end of 2024 through our DTP Zero initiative. Alongside our own sustainability efforts, we also strive to help our customers on their own environmental journeys in whatever way we can.
We are a long-standing partner of HP; whose various initiatives have helped them become recognised as one of the world’s most sustainable technology companies. Along with HPE, who are empowering businesses to meet their sustainable datacenter ambitions with HPE Greenlake.
Learn more about our sustainability impact and pledge.
How can DTP help?
Contact our team today to discuss how we can help you make progress on your sustainability journey.
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