ENERGY EFFICIENT PRINTERS
Efficiency and sustainability For many businesses, sustainability is a priority, but with economic growth slight, cost- cutting is also high on the agenda. When looking at printers, customers want energy efficiency to cover both priorities.
With the economy continuing to register slow-to-zero growth, these are tough times for businesses, and many are looking to find savings wherever possible. At the same time, pressure to be more sustainable continues to build. So, if a business can find a way of saving costs and becoming more sustainable, so much the better. And energy efficient printers can help to achieve this. James Knox, head of corporate responsibility/ESG at Ricoh UK, notes: “ESG is no longer a corporate luxury, incumbent and prospective customers are now basing buying decisions on added value – particularly around ESG benefits,” he says. “As energy prices continue to fluctuate, businesses are prioritising carbon reduction, with energy efficiency in printers becoming a key contributor in the broader sustainability agenda. Not just for environmental impact, but also to combat rising operational costs. Energy efficient printers contribute to net-zero goals by helping to lower electricity bills and reduce carbon emissions.” Dan Wogan, product manager for office printing at Epson UK, agrees that energy efficiency has become a key consideration in printer selection. “This is driven by financial necessity, environmental responsibility, but also fluctuating costs of electricity,” he says. “As businesses work to lower their carbon footprints and meet sustainability targets, reducing energy consumption is more critical than ever, but so too is their cost per Kwh and cutting total cost of ownership (TCO).”
Peter Dresser, product marketing manager at Kyocera Document Solutions UK, adds that minimising the energy usage of printers and multifunction printers (MFPs) offers cost savings and helps organisations lower their Scope 1 emissions to deliver tangible benefits in sustainability. “Energy efficient devices are about more than just peak power consumption,” he says. “Buyers need to look at standby and sleep mode power usage, where devices spend most of their time. Eco-friendly printing modes reduce power usage even further on some printing products.” Tony Ko, vice president of hardware and business solutions, Katun Corporation, adds that today’s MFPs must go beyond just energy efficiency. “They should offer a more holistic approach that prioritises reliability and streamlined operations, enabling businesses to succeed while minimising environmental impact and cutting long-term expenses,” he says. Increasingly energy efficiency Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have been working to make more energy efficient printers and are doing this in various ways. James says Ricoh leverages the latest components and touch panel displays. “For example, our Smart Operation Panel uses 45% less power than the predecessor,” he says. “Furthermore, we have also implemented carbon offsetting programmes to help our customers achieve continuous environmental improvement, offering certification for ISO 14001.” Tony notes that Katun’s Arivia MFPs include an auto-on
James Knox head of corporate responsibility/ESG
ricoh.co.uk
Energy efficient printers contribute to net-zero goals by helping to lower electricity bills and reduce carbon emissions. “ ”
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