HP study finds climate crisis is changing parental decisions on purchasing, careers and even family size

HP announced new global research revealing the serious actions many parents are taking due to climate change, from everyday decisions to long-term family planning.

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The global study found 91% of parents are concerned about the climate crisis, leading to changes that reshape their lives and purchasing habits. More than half (53%) say it has impacted their perspective on having more children. The research also found many parents favor companies that are taking action to address climate change and expect businesses to lead on the issue. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of parents prefer products that are sustainably sourced and 60% say sustainable company practices play a large part in their purchasing habits.

This willingness to seek out sustainable products and decisions comes despite the fact that the vast majority of respondents (84%) acknowledge the cost of living is rising and more than half (57%) believe engaging in environmentally friendly practices takes up a lot of time.

“We are seeing how climate change has transformed family life,” notes Christian Reyes, Managing Director, Philippines, HP Inc. “Parents now have a higher awareness of how decisions made within the home can impact their communities. HP wants to help Filipino families by creating opportunities that enable them to make more sustainable choices.”    

While parents are taking personal action, most also believe key players in the corporate world must act, too. Most parents surveyed globally (51%) believe that companies have “a lot” of responsibility in holding themselves accountable on climate action, as opposed to customers (36%).

The findings come as HP releases its 22nd annual Sustainable Impact report, detailing the company’s progress toward comprehensive and bold environmental and social goals.

• HP has reduced its absolute carbon footprint by 18% since 2019. This brings the company closer to its goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040 – end to end.
• Reduced single-use plastic packaging by 55% compared to 2018.
• Counteracted deforestation for 41% of all paper used in HP products and services towards the goal of 100%.
• Accelerated digital equity for more than 21 million people in path to 150 million by 2030.

In the Philippines, where access to learning opportunities continues to be a challenge for many young learners, HP works with organizations like Atayde Foundation and Teach for the Philippines (TFP) to help bridge the divide.

With the help of Atayde Foundation, HP provided 150 learning kits for kindergarten and Grade 1 learners in some of the most remote communities in the Philippines: Isabela City, Basilan; Northern Sagada, Mountain Province, and Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. 

Each learning kit contains HP Printables, a collection of colouring pages and learning worksheets; a 21-day journal called Kwentong Quarantine (Quarantine Story), a psychosocial tool that helps children understand their thoughts and feelings during their lockdown experience; and Kwentong Kalikasan (Nature Story) which instills the value of environmental and cultural appreciation.

In addition, HP supported 68 new and tenured teachers that have been deployed and are undergoing continuous professional development through TFP’s leadership development programs. HP also supports TFP’s Batang Bayani Life Skills Development Program (BBP), which aims to support parents in helping their children learn at home and to equip students with life skills that help them transition to hybrid ways of learning in the new normal. As of May 2023, BBP has reached 1,446 public school students and 768 parents and guardians.

“HP has always believed in harnessing technology to help communities in need. Our efforts to strengthen digital equity in the Philippines are a testament to this long standing commitment,” said Reyes.

HP aspires to be the most sustainable and just technology company. In 2021, HP set aggressive Sustainable Impact goals in three areas where the company believes it can make the most difference – Climate Action, Human Rights and Digital Equity. The 2022 report details progress toward all three focus areas including a net zero carbon value chain, giving back more to forests than we take, creating a more circular economy, building a culture of equality, and empowerment and accelerating digital equity around the world to enable traditionally excluded communities to thrive in a digital economy.

About the study

HP commissioned global research firm Morning Consult to conduct independent research on this topic. It was conducted between May 18-26, 2023, among a sample of 5,007 adults in the US, UK, India, Mexico and Singapore. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.