HP's buy-in-a-bag laptop reduces packaging by 97%

Every now and then you come across an idea so brilliantly simple you wonder why no one's thought of it before. In response to a challenge from Wal-Mart, HP's decided to do away with the usual polystyrene and bubble wrap kafuffle and pack its Pavilion dv692 laptops in their own padded laptop bags.

Each bag is itself recycled and has internal air bubbles for protection both before and after purchase. Amazingly, it's enabled HP to reduce the packaging it needs to ship the laptops to stores by 97%.

The messenger bag contains everything that would normally be in the box - and three of them can fit snugly inside the large boxes that go to stores. Total packaging for three laptops: one cardboard box.

Since consumers also get a free laptop bag we'd say it's a win-win situation. Currently HP's trialling the idea in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the States. Let's see if anyone else follows its lead.

[ Gizmodo]