Lights! Camera! Environmental Action!

Gale-force winds, freezing cold, dense fog and driving rain aren’t enough to keep intrepid scientists from searching for clues to protect endangered species. One such adventurous mission off the coast of Greenland was captured in the film Whale Mission: Keepers of Memory, by acclaimed filmmaker Jean Lemire.

Whale Mission and Lemire’s other vivid portrayals of the impact of climate change on the earth’s fragile ecosystems grab attention through a blend of science and story-telling. His films shine a spotlight on today’s environmental challenges, just one reason he recently earned The Citation of Lifetime Achievement 2007, sponsored by HP Canada.

The award was presented to Lemire in June at The Canadian Environment Awards in Montréal by Lloyd Bryant, Vice President and General Manager, IPG Canada. (See the video montage shown at the event in low resolution or medium resolution.) This national annual awards program recognizes Canadian individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to protect, restore and preserve the Canadian environment.

“I am delighted that we are sponsoring this prestigious award for the fifth year,” says Lloyd. “The link between HP, which has a long history of environmental performance, and the Citation of Lifetime Achievement is particularly resonant and even more so this year with an award winner whose images are so captivating.”

The awards were established by Canadian Geographic in 2002, through a partnership with the Government of Canada and support from community-minded private-sector sponsors.

Like Lemire and the other Canadian Environment Awards winners, HP is passionate about environmental sustainability, making it a key element of our commitment to the planet. Globally, HP has many environmental initiatives underway, detailed in the 2006 Global Citizenship Report, as well as many local recycling and other environmental initiatives here in Canada.

HP’s actions receive regular praise and recognition, including these awards earlier this year:  

• In January, socially responsible investor group Portfolio 21 named HP to its Top 10 Green Companies list for 2006. The list recognizes companies that understand environmental constraints and risks, such as climate change, and are accordingly changing the way they design products.
• In January, HP was also named to the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World by Canadian company Corporate Knights Inc.
• In March, Fortune Magazine named HP as one of the top 10 Green Giants, companies that have gone beyond what the law requires to operate in an environmentally responsible way.
• In April, Newsweek magazine listed HP eighth on its list of the 100 Greenest Companies, ranked on how effectively we manage environmental risks and opportunities relative to our industry peers.
  

HP Canada has also received numerous awards, most recently:

• In 2006, HP Canada was named Most Environmentally Friendly Corporation or Vendor in Canada at the Environmental Printing Awards. In 2007, HP Canada received the silver award for Most Environmentally Progressive Vendor in Canada at these awards.
  
• In 2005 and 2004, HP Canada was ranked number one in the technology industry as a world leader in corporate social responsibility by The Globe and Mail Report on Business Magazine. The technology industry was not part of the 2006 or 2007 study.
  

An article in The Globe and Mail in June also noted that HP “consistently ranks among the most environmentally conscious corporations in North America.” The article cited our recycling efforts and energy-efficient products as particularly worthy of mention.

“As a corporation, we’re taking action to work towards a sustainable future, but individuals also have a huge role to play,” says Lloyd. “What’s appealing about the Canadian Environment Awards is that they recognize the people who are working at a grassroots level, taking action in the community on the environmental issues important to them. I encourage employees to join these people and HP in working to make a difference to the planet.”