HP “Print Chairs” are durable school chairs made from recycled HP ink and toner cartridges. Instead of sending used cartridges to landfill, HP collects original HP cartridges through its recycling programs and processes the plastics and other materials at a new recycling hub in Colombia. The recovered plastic is then transformed into chair components in partnership with the Recupera Tu Silla Foundation. More than six tons of plastic have already been converted into over 600 chairs for schools across Colombia. This approach helps reduce plastic waste while giving used HP cartridges a new purpose in the form of practical, long‑lasting classroom furniture.

Government reports in Colombia show that thousands of children are studying on broken chairs or even on the floor. Many schools, especially in remote and rural communities, have more students than chairs, and existing wooden furniture has deteriorated over time. This lack of something as basic as a place to sit can negatively affect school attendance and the overall learning experience. HP identified this as an opportunity to address two issues at once: plastic waste and classroom infrastructure. By working with the Recupera Tu Silla Foundation and the Colombia Military, HP is turning used cartridges into chairs that provide students with a safer, more dignified place to study. According to the Foundation, this change supports students’ self‑esteem, improves their learning environment, and helps reduce school absence rates. Over the next year, HP plans to continue this collaboration and aims to double the number of chairs delivered across Colombia.

The “Print Chairs” initiative is one example of how HP is reimagining the lifecycle of its products to reduce waste and create social value. As of December 31, 2022, more than one billion HP print cartridges have been returned through the HP Planet Partners recycling program. HP is increasingly incorporating these recycled materials into its portfolio: in 2023, more than 95% of home and office printers, laptops, notebooks, displays, and workstations shipped to customers included recycled materials. This matters in the context of a global waste challenge, with over 350 million metric tons of plastic generated every year. By repurposing materials into useful products like school chairs, HP is working to shrink its environmental footprint while supporting communities. The company’s broader Sustainable Impact strategy, highlighted in its 2023 Sustainable Impact Report, focuses on building partnerships and solutions that benefit both the planet and people, and has been recognized by organizations such as Reconomy with the Circular Thinking Award.