And HP isn’t just making changes in its own operations, but it’s also working to engage its suppliers and partners in sustainability programs. In early 2022, the company expanded its Amplify Impact channel partner program to empower more than 10,000 partners in over 40 countries to advance their own sustainable impact journeys.
HP’s transparency continues with its efforts in human rights. The company exceeded its goal of increasing factory participation in its supply chain sustainability programs by 114% compared to 2015. While HP ranks among the top technology companies for women in leadership positions and nearly 45% of US hires in 2021 were from racial/ethnic minorities, there is still progress to be made toward inclusive representation. Through 2021, 32.5% of director level and higher positions globally are represented by women at HP.
In its quest to accelerate digital equity for 150 million by 2030 and enable better learning outcomes for 100 million by 2025, the company made significant gains. In its first year tracking progress against its digital equity goal, HP accelerated digital equity for 4.3 million people. And some 74 million students and adult learners have benefited from HP’s education programs and solutions since 2015, nearly three-quarters of the way to achieving its better learning outcomes goal.
Its partnership with Girl Rising, a nonprofit delivering research-proven educational programming for girls, has been particularly successful, with more than 7 million students and teachers reached since 2019. Together, HP and Girl Rising are working toward a shared 2021 aspiration to equip 10 million students and teachers in the United States, India, and Nigeria with inclusive curriculum and technology. It also increased enrollment by 5% in HP LIFE, a program by the HP Foundation that provides entrepreneurship and digital skills training free of charge for start-ups, students, and small businesses.
HP continues to show that these efforts have tangible business value, as consumers increasingly make buying decisions based on the social responsibility of brands. In 2021 alone, HP attributed $3.5 billion in new sales to their sustainability practices, a three-fold increase over 2020.
Lores says, “While no single company, sector, or even country can solve the enormous global challenges before us, we know we can create a better future by working together, doing more, and inspiring others to do the same.”
