The world needs more companies to implement environmental sustainability programs in their offices. The take-make-use-dispose model of resource consumption is no longer viable, and businesses of every size need to adopt a circular approach during their procurement and operating processes. While it may not be possible to enforce full circularity on every consumable or product, remanufactured toner and cartridges are good for the environment, good for sustainability, and good for the company’s bottom line.
Every cartridge that doesn’t go through a recycling process has a long-term effect on the environment. Using remanufactured cartridges instead will add up to a significant contribution toward a cleaner planet and reduced operational costs without compromising on print quality.
Why Recycling Toner and Cartridges are Better for Environmental Sustainability
Toner and ink cartridges are sophisticated, electromechanical products. The manufacturing process is complex and requires significant amounts of natural resources such as metal, aluminum, and oil. For every cartridge that isn’t recycled, the manufacturer will have to use more of the earth’s finite raw materials.
Some of the impacts of manufacturing new toner and ink cartridges are:
- Consumes natural resources – For every 100,000 new cartridges, manufacturers consume five additional tons of aluminum, 40 tons of plastic, and 250,000 more gallons of oil.
- Generates pollution – Spent cartridges will end up in either a landfill or in an incinerator. For those that go to landfills, it can take up to 1,000 years to breakdown naturally while leaking pollutants into the environment. Incinerating a cartridge also adds pollutants from the burnt plastic while the metals will still have to go to landfills.
- Contributes harmful emissions – Manufacturing new cartridges increases emissions and requires the use of energy, adding harmful greenhouse gasses to the earth’s atmosphere. Remanufacturing will reduce the direct energy demand from manufacturers, also helping them to limit new emissions.
The Benefits of Using Remanufactured Ink and Toner Cartridges
Although using remanufactured cartridges benefits the environment, it also provides advantages for businesses. As a measure of cost-control, remanufactured cartridges can be cheaper than new OEM products. Opting to use remanufactured cartridges can save companies between 15% and 50% per order. Before making large-scale organizational changes, businesses need to understand the differences between the cartridges available.
What are Remanufactured Toner and Ink Cartridges?
It’s common for some suppliers to use the term recycled and remanufactured cartridges interchangeably, but companies should note there might be a difference in what they mean. Specifically, there are three types of cartridges available today and these include:
- OEM – Manufactured by the Original Equipment Manufacturer and usually the one most companies are familiar with but also the most expensive option.
- Compatible – Produced by a third party and is compatible with OEM equipment but could have issues relating to quality and in some instances, can damage printers and copiers.
- Remanufactured – Using a spent OEM cartridge, a remanufacturer will replace the consumable parts and refill the tank for companies to reuse.
Additional Benefits of Remanufactured Toner and Cartridges
Besides saving money and being more environmentally sustainable, remanufactured cartridges are better than compatible products as it uses the OEM’s original toner housing. With a compatible product, consumers should be aware of cheap knockoffs that either compromise on quality or use inferior materials in the manufacturing process.
In the remanufacturing process, technicians will inspect any inbound cartridge to determine if it is reusable. Those that reached end-of-life will receive a grinding designation, where the plastic parts will be ground into reusable regrind pellets. The ones suitable for remanufacturing will be electrically tested, cleaned, filled, and sealed before going through a rigorous quality assurance process and finally becoming available for sale.
Improving OEM Cartridges during the Remanufacturing Process
While many businesses trust OEM supplies due to brand loyalty or an increased perception of quality, the remanufacturing sector can provide a better product at a competitive price. Revenues from the sales of OEM ink and toner cartridges can be as high as 70% of a printer manufacturer’s annual income. The financial incentives behind determining prices compared to yield or capacity may end up costing consumers more over time.
While not all suppliers of remanufactured toner and cartridges are equal, some can increase the capacity and provide a superior product compared to the original. Enabling organizations to produce more prints compared to an OEM cartridge translates into more savings for the organization, reduced environmental impact, and improved sustainability for the business.
Experience Significant Cost Savings with Toner and Ink Solutions from Cartridge World Quad Cities
For organizations that want to reduce their carbon footprint while still having access to high-quality toner cartridges, Cartridge World can help. At Cartridge World, we work with customers to find optimized solutions that cater to all their imaging production needs. From professional installation and setup services to quality repairs, Cartridge World can help your organization optimize every portion of your document management processes and workflows. To find out how we can help you with remanufactured toner and cartridge supplies (or any other printer-related service), get in touch with Cartridge World Quad Cities today.