How inkjet innovations have the power to solve social issues

With global warming becoming more painfully noticeable, companies are more conscious of the need to be environmentally sustainable.

How ecofriendly a business becomes is largely determined by the kind of technology that the company chooses for its print output. A prime example of a printing method that supports the reduction of environmental contamination can be seen in that of digital inkjet printing technology. (Epson)

As businesses strive to double down their efforts towards mitigating the effects of climate change, the pressure on them to comply with environmental regulations is at an all-time high. “Going green” has today become one of the topmost priorities for decision-makers of most companies the world over. However, in order to achieve sustainability, there is an urgent need for global action since the contribution that any one company can make by reducing the environmental impacts of its business activities is limited.

With global warming becoming more painfully noticeable, companies are more conscious of the need to be environmentally sustainable. This is particularly important when considering large-scale printing jobs that require technology like production printing - one of the greatest uses of energy and resources. Many businesses try to save energy by several initiatives. What they might not be taking into consideration is that printers and multifunction printers (MFPs) account for about 10% of total power consumed in a typical office. (Source)

How ecofriendly a business becomes is largely determined by the kind of technology that the company chooses for its print output. A prime example of a printing method that supports the reduction of environmental contamination can be seen in that of digital inkjet printing technology. Inkjet printers draw very little power when printing compared to laser printers that require heat and a lot of electricity to fuse toner to paper. It has also been observed that inkjet printers produce up to 85% less carbon dioxide than those comparable laser printers. (Source) Moreover, when it comes to waste generation, using inkjet printers results in a significantly reduced impact on the environment over the lifespan of a printer, with up to 59% less replacement parts compared to laser printers. (Source) High-capacity ink packs not only reduce costs but also contribute to reducing environmental impact by reducing resource consumption and minimizing waste. They also ease the burden of managing consumables replacement and help reduce downtime.

The environmental impacts of a product across its life cycle, from cradle to grave, are largely determined at the planning and design-engineering stages. In efforts to minimize customers' environmental impacts, more printer manufacturers should be taking a life-cycle thinking approach by providing products that change the way they work and live, and offer environmental performance as a basic feature. A company like ours is at the forefront of the fight for climate protection and biodiversity in order to achieve sustainability in a circular economy. We are helping customers recognize the environmental gains brought on by technology, whether it is redefining manufacturing through innovative robotics, saving energy with office printing technology or revolutionizing textile printing with digital solutions. By leveraging efficient, compact, and precision technologies, our company strives to reduce the environmental impact of its products and services across their life cycles.

High-performance Inkjet printers have the potential to satisfy the conditions for a sustainable world by seeking to transform methods and mentalities and provide products, services, and production processes that have a far lower environmental impact on society, thereby decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. With fewer processes, reduced resources use, less water and wastewater, shorter turnaround times, smaller space requirements, and custom on-demand production, the number of potential applications of inkjet technology is today growing at a very high rate, looking to replace analog printing in every possible application.

This article has been written by Siva Kumar K, Senior General Manager, IJP, Epson India.