SustainAbility has worked with HP since 2002, when HP joined our Engaging Stakeholders program. Since then our work has expanded to support HP’s global citizenship strategy in numerous ways, including developing engagement strategies, obtaining and analyzing stakeholder inputs, providing executive briefings, developing competitive assessments and advising on HP’s environmental strategies.

In 2006, HP identified the need to establish an ongoing dialogue at the corporate level with sustainability thought leaders, to better understand external perceptions of the issues critical to society and their business. Together, HP and SustainAbility conceived, designed and launched HP’s Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC). The purpose of the SAC, which met quarterly, was to provide independent, expert advice to HP on current and emerging corporate citizenship issues, including climate change, labor conditions, electronic waste, human rights, access to technology, supply chain management and privacy. The approach to corporate-level engagement further evolved in 2009, from a single group of individuals with general sustainability expertise to groups of advisers with more specific knowledge, the make-up of which would change according to the topics discussed. SustainAbility helped HP to successfully navigate the change in approach, while at the same time creating the meeting design and leading facilitation.

Both advisory structures have been effective mechanisms for corporate-level stakeholder engagement. The influence on decision-making was at times obvious (as in HP’s decision to disclose its supply chain), but frequently more subtle or gradual. Each of the conversations powerfully impacted how HP thinks about citizenship and its business. In addition, the engagements have created and strengthened invaluable relationships for HP.

HP’s approach to corporate-level stakeholder engagement continues to evolve. In 2010, building on the strong foundation laid by the SAC and the Trusted Advisor Network, HP has established a global stakeholder engagement model and continues to raise engagement on sustainability issues to senior leaders throughout the company.

Embedded in all of SustainAbility’s work with HP has been an ability to combine strong business acumen with knowledge of civil society perspectives on issues of concern to HP. SustainAbility has pushed HP to go beyond its comfort zone, in the process enabling the company to strive for – and achieve – leadership in many aspects of its citizenship strategy. HP has frequently been acknowledged for its sustainability performance, achieving the status of “America’s Greenest Company” in Newsweek’s 2009 ranking, and topping CRO Magazine’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens list in 2010.