SUSTAINABLE PRINTERS
Going green with sustainable printers Sustainability is a priority for many businesses now, as they look to cut their carbon footprint and they are looking at all aspects of operations to do this. As a result, printers increasingly need to be more sustainable, in terms of power usage, ink usage and manufacturers and resellers are responding to this.
The age of sustainability is here. Increasingly, consumers are demanding more from the companies they work with or buy from. They’re drawn consistently to brands that not only offer the best products and services, but also share their values when it comes to eco-friendly, ethical practices. According to studies from First Insight and the Baker Retail Centre for the University of Pennsylvania, customers across all generations now say they’re willing to pay more for sustainable products. Additionally, younger customers are branching away from brands they know to have less eco-friendly practices and products. This places new pressure on businesses to redefine their workflows, partnerships and supplier networks, with a focus on greener solutions. As Alex Econs, founder of ICON Printing, says: “There was a time when the only considerations for customers were price and quality. While these things still count, the question of environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important.” Is demand for sustainable printing growing? Demand for sustainability is increasing in virtually every industry, from fashion to advertising. Part of the reason for this shift is the influx of new, younger customers entering the market, with a more focused commitment to protecting the planet. Research from Epson found most customers, particularly those from Generation Y – also known as Millennials, born between 1981 and 1994 (79%) – and Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2010) (86%) say they have high expectations of companies when it comes to sustainable practices. Today’s customers aren’t just questioning the materials and processes used to create products, but also what businesses can do to
reduce unnecessary waste, while keeping up with consumer demand. For instance, Chris Bates, business unit manager for TD SYNNEX in the UK, says his team has seen increasing interest in printers with refillable ink tanks in the past year. “This is certainly being driven by the desire to reduce carbon impact – and to save on cost and the need to constantly replenish ink and toner cartridges,” he said. At the same time, larger socio-economic issues are also influencing purchasing decisions. Richard Wells, head of office print sales at Epson, noted his company’s partners are worrying more about energy consumption in today’s unpredictable marketplace. “With conflict in Ukraine and the following economic turmoil having had a huge impact on the cost of energy, more and more businesses are trying to reduce their energy consumption and print plays a key part here,” he says.
Alex Econs founder ICON Printing
iconprinting.com
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Today’s customers aren’t just questioning the materials and processes used to create products, but also what businesses can do to reduce
unnecessary waste, while keeping up with consumer demand.
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