EPSON
sustainability manager there and they want to talk shop, and I’m happy to do that. “Resellers understand the basics of sustainability and the importance of it, but we can help tell the story of Epson and of inkjet printing as well. We ensure our resellers go through regular training as well to make sure that the information they have is up to date too.” Recycling used printer cartridges is also important. Often, used cartridges have been binned after use and end up in landfill, which isn’t ideal as most parts don’t biodegrade. But Epson now has a cartridge recycling scheme for domestic and business consumers. While domestic consumers have an envelope they can use to send used cartridges back, businesses can have a box that can be collected when full to save on time and deliveries, Taran explains. Taran adds that Epson is also trialling refurbishing and refilling cartridges and putting them back into the market. “The idea is to have them used as much as possible, and again that helps with circularity and creating a loop,” she says. “It is trying to make sure that we’re heading in that direction and establish a foundation now so that it becomes easier in the future for us as well.” Extended warranty Another way to be more sustainable is for businesses to keep hold of their printers for longer. To this end, Epson has now instituted longer warranties on its printers. “It’s a bit of a no-brainer for customers,” says Taran. “When you’ve got such a long warranty for a product on offer, you’re going to get it because if in six years the printer breaks, for example, it’s still within warranty and will get fixed.” Taran adds that another feature of inkjet printers is that, as it doesn’t have a heating element, the degradation in them is much lower. “We basically thought ‘let’s put our money where our mouth is and
“
Our resellers are super engaged when it comes to trying to understand how to put forward the product proposition with their customers... Often, we’ll go with them to events they’re speaking at... They lead but have Epson there to give any support if it is needed.
been tested and certified by Epson. “Remanufacturing is a new space that we’re looking at because it plays into that circular economy. It’s not possible for us to have decarbonised completely without having a circular economy in place and how can we fit our printers into this? “It’s about how can we make sure that when they’re built, they are modular enough for us to, at the end of their life, pull them apart easily and make sure all parts are recyclable.” Reseller role Resellers play an important role in Epson’s sustainability activities too. “Our resellers are super engaged when it comes to trying to understand how to put forward the product proposition with their customers,” says Taran. “Often, we’ll go with them to events they’re speaking at, for example. They lead but have Epson there to give any support if it is needed. “Likewise, when resellers have customer visits, often they’ll call me and say ‘can you come along to the meetings because we have a customer who’s interested in sustainability.’ They’ll have their
”
CONTINUED
printinthechannel.co.uk
53
Powered by FlippingBook