Oxygen Technical Services Ltd

Why Toner Cartridge Recycling Saves the Environment

As many modern consumers know, businesses put a massive strain on the environment. These consumers have come to appreciate businesses who take environmental sustainability seriously. One of the greatest ways businesses can make an impact on reducing their environmental footprint is to recycle toner cartridges. Here are what managers need to know to make the most out of this practice.

Commercial Damage to the Environment and What Consumers Think About It

To put the environmental impact of business printing operations in perspective, consider this, upwards of 350 million toner cartridges are discarded as garbage annually. More shocking still, this figure accounts only for the number of discarded cartridges in North America. Consumers in the Canada purchase nearly 30 million toner cartridges annually.

Toner cartridges can take over a thousand years to decompose and leak toxic chemicals into groundwater that can cause serious harm to both humans and the surrounding environment. These chemicals can cause serious health effects and make the excess in discarding toner cartridges abhorrent. In addition to the damaging carbon dioxide levels inherent in ink production, almost a whole gallon of petrol is used in the production of a single laser cartridge.

Environmental sustainability is at the forefront of many consumer’s interests when choosing between brands to shop from. Leading vehicle manufacturer Audi is taking environmental sustainability under serious consideration and incorporating it into strategies that they’ll be using for a decade.

Clever managers from firms of every industry should take note of Audi’s move towards embracing environmental sustainability. 75% of shoppers take sustainability into consideration in their purchases and businesses need to start taking note.

These statistics all point to the same thing, businesses should embrace sustainable printing not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s what today’s customers want.

How Recycling Toner Cartridges Reduces Pollution and Supports Sustainable Printing

When it comes down to it, there really isn’t a truly efficient way of getting rid of toner cartridges besides recycling them. When a toner cartridge is disposed of as garbage, it either ends up polluting the air or the earth.

When toner cartridges are incinerated, the burnt chemicals released into the air contributes to pollution. On the other hand, when they are dumped in landfills, they leak into the ground causing pollution that is just as harmful if not worse.

Recycling toner cartridges is a great was to engage in sustainable printing, a move that the modern consumer will readily appreciate.

How Recycling Toner Cartridges Conserves Natural Resources

Not only does recycling toner cartridges make an impact on reducing pollution, it also helps preserve precious natural resources. Natural resources that are used in the production of toner that are plentiful now, may be more expensive in the future.

For example, toner cartridges are chiefly comprised out of two major materials, metal and plastic, both of which have a huge impact on the environment. When manufacturers use all new material to produce toner cartridges, plastic drains petrol supplies which are sensitive in terms of both price and availability, not to mention environmental costs.

The metal that is used in toner cartridge production, while minuscule on the level of individual cartridges, adds up to a massive amount of refined copper and aluminum. When considering the same figure of 350 million cartridges being disposed every year, one can see how all of that metal and petrol adds up. The combined effect of using this much material puts a serious strain on the environment and has been known to cause damage on a scale that is not insignificant.

Using Remanufactured Toner is the Second Step in Sustainable Printing

Firms with concerns over quality can rest assured in knowing that remanufactured toner cartridges are tested rigorously for quality assurance. Remanufactured toner is held to strict industry standards and carries no risk of leaking or inferior printing quality. Businesses can look good in customer’s eyes while making a genuine difference in doing their part to preserve the environment.

Sustainable and Recycling Printing with First Phase Data

Businesses looking to make the most out of toner recycling need more than a drop off point, they need a partner. Forward thinking leader in sustainable printing, First Phase Data should be the first choice for any business seeking to maximize the benefits of toner recycling. As part of our managed print services program we can help facilitate toner recycling, which is both effective and profitable in terms of cost savings.

Help the environment and appease customers by recycling toner with First Phase Data, let’s make a difference.