CIRCULAR ECONOMY
In the round As awareness of the need to be more sustainable grows, more businesses are getting involved in the circular economy with their print fleet and resellers have a vital role to help customers in this.
Sustainability is a growing priority for businesses and the focus is not just on how devices such as printers are sustainable in the field, but through their whole lifecycle – meaning that the circular economy is becoming more important. Dan Wogan, product manager for office printing at Epson UK, says interest in the circular economy increasing across businesses of all sizes. “It serves as a sustainability initiative and a practical strategy to cut costs and meet environmental targets,” he says. “Businesses are realising that extending the life of products, reducing material use, and closing the loop on waste not only helps contribute to a greener planet but also makes long-term business sense. “From SMEs to large corporates, organisations are looking at how their technology choices – printers included – can play a role in supporting waste reduction, energy efficiency and cost control, all of which sit at the heart of circularity. “For many corporate tenders, circularity is now more than a nice-to- have. It's a requirement. In some cases, organisations without clear circular solutions risk being excluded from valuable business opportunities.” Steve Pearce, head of marketing at Kyocera Document Solutions UK, adds that many businesses are starting to take a more holistic view of their environmental impact. “This means not just reducing energy use, but also rethinking how products and materials are used, reused and recycled,” he says.
“As pressure from regulators, employees and customers increases, companies are starting to see circular principles as a crucial part of building long-term resilience and safeguarding their reputation. This includes looking at the full lifecycle of their devices and print infrastructure, such as the manufacturing process, design and durability.” OEM response Printer manufacturers are responding to this growing demand. “OEMs like Epson are embedding circular economy principles into the full lifecycle of printing technology, from design and production to operation, servicing and end-of-life processes,” says Dan. “A standout example is heat-free inkjet technology, which requires fewer consumables and experiences less wear and tear than traditional laser printers. This helps reduce resource consumption and extend the printer’s usable life. “Another example is Epson’s Replaceable Ink Pack System, which offers high-capacity ink yields, dramatically reducing the frequency of replacements and cutting down the volume of packaging, transport and disposal. “OEMs are also supporting circularity through extended serviceable lifespans, with long warranties, such as Epson’s eight-year warranty that can help customers keep their devices in the field for longer while minimising e-waste.” Steve adds that print manufacturers are investing in long-
Dan Wogan product manager, office printing
epson.co.uk
“
For many corporate tenders, circularity is now more than a nice-
to-have. It's a requirement.
”
CONTINUED
printinthechannel.co.uk
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