Our second Scale with Purpose session with HP concluded last Tuesday, where we explored “What” HP is doing to integrate sustainability across its operations and practices. Following up on Session 1’s focus on “Why”, HP demonstrated how sustainability is embedded in everything from product design and manufacturing to end-of-life solutions.
Lynn Loh, HP's Global Head of ESG Reporting, shared insights on HP's Sustainability Impact Reporting, comprising a double materiality assessment that considers both impact and financial factors in sustainability decision-making. The sharing spotlighted the importance of leadership commitment in fostering a culture of sustainability. Small changes, such as measuring carbon footprints and embracing creative solutions, are powerful starting points. Lynn also discussed how external recognition sends a strong signal to investors, customers and stakeholders. Accolades not only validate a company’s sustainability efforts but also provide a useful framework to set priorities and take actionable steps.
Director of Operations, Ling Foong Teng, also shared about HP’s approach to sustainable manufacturing, including innovations like reducing waste with advanced robotics and adopting sustainable packaging solutions, such as directly printing on cardboard to replace plastic-coated labels. These efforts are part of HP’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
The Q&A segment, moderated by su-yin ching, gave participants the opportunity to ask valuable questions on practicality, including how to prioritise data collection and integrate sustainability into business strategy as SMEs.
In the second part of the session, Rachpal Kaur Tulsi introduced us to Systems Thinking, a crucial framework for understanding the interconnectedness of our actions. Using the example of how wolves change rivers, we explored the two key components of systems thinking:
1) Mental models: Recognising how our biases shape the way we see the world.
2) Complex adaptive systems: Understanding the ripple effect of decisions across society, such as how logistics and packaging affect everything from supply chains to investor behaviour.
For SMEs, systems thinking is vital to understanding the broader impact of their decisions, whether it’s optimising production processes or choosing sustainable materials. Through real-life scenarios participants delved into how even as SMEs face resource constraints, a mindset shift to address the “Why” of sustainability can help overcome the fear of failure.
The session highlighted that mentorship and collaboration are key to navigating this complex journey towards sustainability. We look forward to seeing how HP mentorships progress as they guide our SME participants toward a more sustainable future.
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