Carbon Footprints and Ink Jet Cartridges

Andy Mayfield

Managing Director of CRT UK Limited www.crt-uk.com
Ex-Technical Director of UKCRA UK Cartridge Remanufacturers Association

UKCRA Toner Report - view here

A UKCRA commissioned study has been made of carbon footprints of short-life and long-life toner cartridges, comparing the carbon footprints of OEM cartridges with those of corresponding remanufactured cartridges. This can be seen on this website at UKCRA Toner Report . In essence in showed the carbon footprints have been evaluated on the basis of actual profiles of components replaced during refilling cycles. In the case of short-life cartridges, the percentage saving in carbon footprint through repeated refilling cycles is about 25 to 40% compared with that of using the equivalent number of new cartridges. In the case of long-life cartridges, the avoidable carbon footprint achieved through use of remanufactured cartridges rises to about 60%.

Ink Jet Cartridge Benefits - Carbon and Cost Savings for Customers and the Economy

Similar to toner cartridges, the key benefit with remanufactured cartridges is the savings made in energy.
An ink jet cartridge housing can often be refilled a number of times instead of being immediately thrown away. What are the benefits? They are:

• When refilled locally following an approved process the cartridge does not need transportation
• This saves transportation costs often over thousands of miles across continents by sea and air
• There are cost savings in production, engineering and business costs
• There are specific hardware savings for materials associated with the processes
• Most importantly, Retail costs.

Background Key Points

Market Size - key facts

There are 15million laser cartridges a year used in the UK. Total sales have increased by 50% in the last 6 to 7 years due to colour cartridges
Ballpark figure for inkjets is 40-50 million.
75% are original sales
25% are reman and compatible

Ink Jet - A brief history

It may seem incredible but it is a relatively new technology only four decades old. The efficiency and ink drop size has changed radically in this time frame. The size of droplet used to be 220pl in the early 1990s and is now down to 5pl.The printer used to control the ink jet cartridge, whereas today the inkjet cartridge can think for its self.

Remanufactured Cartridge Product

This means a new cartridge which, inspected and fit to be refilled both in terms of its physical and electronic condition, also in terms of to UKCRA code of compliance ie non-infringement of patents.
Compatibles for examples are new cartridge copies which are illegal.
For example, compatible cartridges with integral print heads such as HP and Lexmark etc. which are illegal.

Contact Andy Mayfield CRT UK Ltd. The Half Moon Complex, West Street, Alford Lincolnshire, LN13 9DG, UK www.crt-uk.com Please Call 01507466518 oremail: sales@crtuk.com

Contact UKCRA Speak to Laura Heywood laura@kleenstrike.co.uk For Information contact: info@ukcra.com Members' Direct Email: members@ukcra.com First Floor, Cheethams Mill, Park Street, Stalybridge Cheshire SK15 2BT. Tel: 01706 525050. Fax: 01706 647440

Contact o i solutions economi on 01202 706 975 or contact@oisolutions.co.uk