macnn/electronista
09/03/2008, 1:30pm, EDT
Wednesday, September 3rdHP laptop-in-a-bag wins Walmart 'green' challenge
HP says it has found a way to reduce notebook packaging materials by 97 percent, and cut transportation costs by 31 percent. The computer giant has won Walmart's "green" Home Entertainment Design Challenge, by packaging a Pavillion dv6929 in a messenger bag capable of doubling as a shipping container. As a result, less styrofoam and cardboard are consumed, and a bulk shipment can occupy less space in ships and trucks, in theory resulting in less fuel expenses.
Walmart claims to be pushing towards environmental sustainability, and has called on suppliers to cut back on plastic and cardboard packaging schemes. HP says that while its messenger-bag pilot program will not save money initially because of development costs, benefits could be substantial in widespread use. This will not carry over to shoppers however, who will be expected to pay a "negligible" increased price.
The bag is described as tan and canvas-like, with an "aqua" theme featuring a blue and green design on the front. The case is made from 100 percent recycled material, according to HP.
Filed under: computers
Other story tags: HP, notebooks, Wal-Mart, environmental
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wow
That is a good thing!
Wow
I'm rather impressed. Not a bad idea.
Neat!
Hate the bag though. Landfill, here it comes.
Kudos to HP
Hopefully Apple will follow this lead, as they are in need of some "rehab" on the green front. Bravo to HP for this truly innovative idea -- now if only the computers inside weren't [manure] running a [manure] OS ... :)
Kudos
Kudos to HP. Excellent idea. Even IF flying meat hates the bag (as I do) it can be used as reusable shopping bag or for some other purpose.
I always hated the apple big box with lots of pressed and formed Styrofoam
No protection
Looks like this "packaging" provides minimal shipping protection, though. I'm not sure I'd trust my valuable data to a laptop shipped this way. Macbook boxes aren't huge and don't use a ton of materials. Mac Pro boxes have to be because of the heavy machine inside. I suppose Apple could become more "green" by molding padding out of the cornstarch material used in biodegradable packing peanuts.