- Last year Kyocera’s production facilities in Vietnam and China moved entirely to renewable energy.
- The firm says its toners are designed to make use of recycled materials and use less energy while printing in order to make them more sustainable.
- However, the printing industry as a whole seems to push folks away from using recycled, third-party ink in favour of purchasing new cartridges or subscriptions.
As we seemingly speed-run the destruction of our planet, some companies are working hard to lessen the impact their operations have on the environment.
Unfortunately, many business owners see the work that needs to be done or the sacrifices that must be made to protect our planet and either do very little or nothing to course correct. One company that is intent on reducing the impact its operations have on the environment is Kyocera Document Solutions.
“We believe in conducting business and making decisions focused on win-win outcomes, as well as reducing our impact on the environment and society at large,” says Paul Wendlandt, General Manager for Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa.
“The two are not mutually exclusive. They complement each other in support of long-term prosperity and a healthy planet,” says Wendlandt.
By April 2023, Kyocera Document Solutions had begun powering its production sites in Vietnam and China, entirely on renewable energy. However, while this makes for a nice headline, the goal is to achieve 100 percent renewable energy at all of the firm’s production sites. The plan is to reduce the energy usage at this facilities while also moving to solar power and other renewable energy sources.
However, as Wendlandt points out, Kyocera Document Solutions must also be cognisant of the environmental impact its products have on our planet. To that end, Kyocera’s toners are made using recycled plastic and they use less energy to minimise waste during printing.
“To minimise the impact of its products on people and the planet from the start, Kyocera’s manufacturing is based on green-friendly product development, and sustainable materials and processes. Products are designed to reduce consumption during use and all the way through to end-of-life management,” the GM explains.
Of course, once a product is no longer operational, it’s up to the end user to dispose of it properly and therein lies the real rub.
Ewaste is a growing concern in the world. As our electronics fail and we’re forced to buy the latest model, many folks are still chucking their electronics away with their food waste and other garbage. This is a problem as electronics contain components that can leak toxic chemicals into the ground, polluting ground water supplies many folks rely on. Folks need to properly dispose of electronics, even the old printer that no longer works.
As easy as it is to say that, unfortunately disposing of ewaste requires a person drop those old electronics off at special drop-off zones. This effort means that more often than not, ewaste ends up with other waste.
To address this, Wendlandt says that Kyocera Document Solutions’ products produce up to 85 percent less ewaste in their lifetime. The company also implements recycling programs urging customers to ultimately assist in reducing the firm’s impact on the environment.
“As more customers seek eco-friendly options, the market potential for green products is growing exponentially. Moreover, the green economy offers a wide range of benefits, including environmental protection, improved health, innovation, and enhanced resilience to global challenges. Safeguarding the planet for future generations is in all our interests,” the GM said.
However, we’d be curious to know how Kyocera feels about third-party toners being sold. Firms that specialise in the manufacture and sale of printers often take affront to the sale of third-party cartridges and toners. Despite many third-party cartridges being made from refurbished first-party cartridges, the manufacturers of the third-party cartridges are often met with derision by manufacturers.
So much so, that HP says that it bricked printers using third-party toners and cartridges because they presented a cybersecurity risk.
It’s of little comfort then to hear a printer company’s words about protecting the environment when so many in the sector are intent on making it tougher to use a printer in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
While Kyocera Document Solutions already looks to be doing a lot, we’d love to see somebody in the printing industry come out and welcome all measures that could assist the fight to keep our environment safe, even the use of third-party ink.
