Yet, "it's not a trade-off (between costs and CSR)," she says. "CSR is not about calculating the return on dollar investment."

In 2002, HP launched HP's Planet Partners recycling service and has attracted a great number of its corporate customers to join the global programme.

In 2004, the firm launched the Cartridges for Dragon Recycling programme in China's major communities joining with the Global Village of Beijing and environmental non-governmental organization Roots & Shoots. Roots & Shoots is the largest programme launched by the Jane Goodall Institute, established by Jane Goodall, a world-renowned scientist.

As China has become a global factory, most of HP's suppliers are based in the country. Its sourcing in China exceeded US$10 billion in 2003.

HP has spent substantial resources on its China-based suppliers, including time and human resources, to help them get familiar with environmental regulations and comply with HP's requirements in the context of CSR, Sully notes.

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