SUSTAINABLE CONSUMABLES
triggers concern,” he says. “Many simply ask for reassurance and a clear explanation of processes and partners, sometimes supported by waste transfer notes. We have also hosted customers on site to show them, first-hand, what happens to their toner when it is returned to us.” Future It is expected that this market will continue to grow in the future. “Sustainability is now a core driver of customer decision making,” says Cinzia. “The industry is moving beyond ESG commitments toward measurable impact, rewarding companies that embed circular thinking across their operations. As demand for waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible end-of-life solutions rises, remanufactured and recycled-content products will play an expanding role in long-term business strategies.” Ben adds that he expects this market to continue to grow as regulation tightens, sustainability reporting becomes more robust. James notes that the UK Government continues to introduce legislation on emissions, waste, water and packaging. “Suppliers are being pushed to develop technology that supports these requirements, and ESG performance is becoming a core element of buying decisions. “This trend is accelerating across EMEA and beyond. ESG requirements are cascading down supply chains, creating pressure on suppliers, while reputational risk from inaction is increasing. ESG credentials are now as important as a company’s profit and loss account and can determine whether a business thrives or fails. Over the last four years, Ricoh has seen more than double the number of requests for global ESG data, over 60% from EMEA. ESG is not a phase; it is becoming the foundation of how businesses operate and grow.” n
is critical to ensuring materials are recovered, reused or recycled rather than disposed of as waste,” says Ben. “That’s why we offer our clients a free of charge consumable recycling scheme called ‘A World on Loan’ for all genuine Konica Minolta consumables. “Cartridge recycling schemes are essential to Konica Minolta’s circular economy approach, enabling high recovery rates of materials and significantly reducing the environmental footprint of print consumables. Our consumable recycling scheme offers our clients the opportunity to return genuine Konica Minolta consumables free of charge with zero waste to landfill.” Cinzia adds that supporting a true circular economy requires looking at the entire product lifecycle from design and manufacturing to responsible disposal and reuse. “This makes recycling programs a critical component of any sustainability strategy,” she says. “Recycling initiatives such as Katun Collects make it simple for customers to return used consumables for responsible recycling. These programs help reduce landfill waste while enabling the recovery of valuable materials for use in high- quality remanufactured products.” James notes that customers want to know exactly what happens to their used products. “Any sign that environmental impact has not been properly considered
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ESG requirements are cascading down supply chains, creating pressure on suppliers, while reputational risk from inaction is increasing. ESG credentials are now as important as a company’s profit and loss account and can determine whether a business thrives or fails.
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