HP takes leadership stand on emissions reporting across supply chain

Talk about full (well, almost-full) disclosure: As it promised in its 2007 Global Corporate Citizenship Report, tech giant Hewlett-Packard is reporting carbon emissions data not just for its own operations for those of its largest suppliers. The data represents about 80 percent of the company's "first-tier manufacturing expenditures." (Whatever that means.)

Last year, HP's aggregate carbon dioxide emissions were about 3.5 million metric tons.

HP will use the information from its suppliers to investigate additional ways it might be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across its entire supply chain. Ultimately, it will require all suppliers to conform with a consistent method of reporting this information. To date, it has conducted more than 500 audits to date with its first- and second-tier suppliers with an eye toward this goal.

HP's work is in part motivated by its participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration initiative.