Hewlett-Packard announced yesterday its plans to aid its customers who are looking for an environmentally friendly imaging and printing product. The plans include a carefully thought out strategy which will involve the paper, the enterprise, the labeling and the release of the newest HP printer made mostly from recycled materials.

HP also introduced a global paper policy and a HP Eco Highlights label will assist customers with all their questions about the products and their environmentally friendly features.

The plans include an improvement of the overall energy efficiency of its products by at least 40 percent until 2011 and also the quantities of recycled materials user for the manufacturing of its printers by three times until 2010. The plans have been initiated several years ago, and recycled materials for the new products are very likely to use parts and materials from old HP printers.

So far the company launched the HP Deskjet D2545, which has 83 percent of its total plastic weight made from recycled materials. Three others will also present the new HP labels: the LaserJet P4015x, P4515x and P4515xm black-and-white laser printers.

Apparently, according to Klaus Hieronymi, who represents HP’s Environmental Business Management Organization, the biggest problem is the paper itself. Close to two-thirds of the carbon – dioxide emissions released by printing are caused by the manufacturing of paper and according to Mr. Mieronymi the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from these activities might be to use as little paper as possible.