SUSTAINABLE CONSUMABLES
“Canon has addressed this challenge with our Recycled Zero White paper and Red Label Zero paper, which makes us the first manufacturer to offer carbon neutral paper for wide-format machines. These papers are made from 100% post-consumer waste, are EU Ecolabel certified and are produced carbon- neutrally. To demonstrate the impact that switching to carbon neutral papers can have, plain paper produces 1250kg of CO2 per ton of paper, while the Canon Black Label Zero paper produces only 278kg. That is an emissions reduction of more than 300% and presents businesses with a key opportunity to improve their overall sustainability performance.” Peter Cowan, group chief operations officer at Data Direct, notes that there are many developments in terms of biodegradable products, and generally higher levels of remanufactured content. “However, many solutions bring a higher cost, and none of the manufacturers are willing to be first to increase costs on the basis of sustainability, so a lot of greenwashing continues,” he says. “At Data Direct, we have greatly increased the levels of recycled, and recyclable content, especially with waste toner bottles, for example where we range from 100% recycled, to 80% recycled content dependant on availability.” Toner innovation Steve Pearce, head of marketing at Kyocera Document Solutions UK, notes that the company takes toner innovation seriously – just like other OEMs. “We do this because toner is designed to work in synergy with print engines to maximise product life and ensure it delivers premium benefits to the end users in terms of imaging quality and reliability,” he says. To make its toner and toner production more sustainable, Kyocera has made certain developments. “Kyocera’s original toner has a sharp melting core covered by a thin shell that fuses at a temperature 30 degrees lower than that of conventional printers and MFPs, slashing power consumption when printing by half – a hidden cost saving that end users may not be aware of,” says Steve. “The standard toner cartridge on the ECOSYS MA4000wifx Series, launched in September, is pretty special – it’s capable of
printing 10,000 pages before needing to be replaced. This means less shipping and less plastic waste from spent cartridges. Plus, the toner is Titanium Dioxide free. All benefiting the environment. “Alongside innovation is the reassurance that our toner is ethically produced in a factory owned by the Kyocera Group – a member of the UN Global Compact with a strong focus on human rights, labour and the environment. Our production plants have targeted ESG goals and prioritise environmental conservation, workplace safety and their co-existence with the local communities.” Difference it makes Using sustainable consumables can make an appreciable difference to a business too. “More sustainable consumables are one way to lower the carbon footprint associated with printing, which will help businesses advance toward their sustainability and net zero goals,” says Debbie. “Returning spent consumables for recycling and using consumables with reclaimed and post- consumer materials reduces environmental impacts while supporting brand reputation and stakeholder engagement initiatives.” Peter adds that sustainability is now a vital part of any major tender for major business/ government/education requirements. “In many circumstances, the sustainable credentials rank higher than cost in final evaluation," he says.
Debie Gualtieri director of product safety & sustainability
www.xerox.co.uk/en-gb
CONTINUED
printinthechannel.co.uk
39
Powered by FlippingBook