Hewlett-Packard said it is one step closer to eliminating potentially hazardous materials in its new products. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said on Tuesday that it will change its formula with a goal to eliminate a flame retardant, called tetrabromobisphenol A, from the external case parts of all new HP-brand products introduced after Dec. 31, 2006.
To keep in line with its own standards and government mandates, the company has been spending the last 20 years cutting back on possible toxic substances. HP said thare more than 10 years ago it had eliminated more than 95 percent of the specific retardants used in the external case parts, including two that were eventually restricted by the European Union. During the same period, the company also eliminated PVCs (polyvinyl chloride) materials from the external case parts of its products.