How can you print more sustainably?
To print more sustainably, consider your carbon footprint throughout the lifecycle of your printing infrastructure. The carbon footprint quantifies the environmental impact of a product in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. This applies to the entire product life cycle. It ranges from raw materials, sourcing and production, to transportation, use, maintenance, disposal and recycling.
On the other hand, when designing your infrastructure to print more sustainably, consider taking into account end-of-life initiatives. In our case, we have been participating in the circular economy for decades. In fact, reducing our environmental footprint is such a priority that, in 1994, we established the "Comet Circle," our own circular economy model. The Comet Circle explains our approach to the reuse of parts and recycling of materials within our organization and throughout our business activities, supplier network and product life cycles.
Focus also on energy consumption
Energy consumption and the use of new, higher yield cartridges available on the market should also be considered as companies can also benefit from fewer shipments and replacements. Consider getting a smart printing device that features a toner locking mechanism that does not allow toner cartridges to be removed until a cartridge is empty. This means you get 100% of the usage benefits, with significantly less waste.
For example, the carbon footprint of our new IM C series of smart printing devices is 27% lower than predecessor models, and has a lower end-to-end carbon footprint. In addition, our new toner composition melts at 14 degrees lower than the previous model. This contributes greatly to reducing energy consumption. It is also key to mention that they have a faster warm-up period than previous models and a 50% reduction in power consumption when in eco-mode (which it accesses by default). This translates into lower power consumption overall.
Sustainability, a fundamental shift
At Ricoh, we are proud to have cultivated a green legacy, with sustainability as part of our DNA.
Our mission is to help organizations print more sustainably. We understand that sustainable practices and corporate responsibility are not only an ethical and moral imperative. They also make business sense. In our current context, where 80% of greenhouse gas emissions are indirect emissions that occur throughout a company's value chain, a sustainability strategy can impact operating profits by as much as 60%.
In conclusion, sustainability is a broad and constantly evolving goal. That is why it can be difficult to visualize the most urgent changes that need to be implemented. The important thing is to take the first steps and lay a solid foundation for achieving your ESG goals. This means it is absolutely vital to reinforce sustainability commitments with tangible, practical actions.
