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Peter Mayhew, Principal Analyst in Keypoint Intelligence’s Office Group, brings over 40 years of sales, marketing and research experience to the table. Original and aftermarket office supplies, inkjet printing, the paper market, and home printing are some of his chief areas of focus, while issues around sustainability are of particular interest to him. Office supply manufacturers face demands to make product lines more eco-friendly, which is why Peter and I sat down to discuss that, along with specific sustainability concerns, regulatory factors, and the opportunities the document imaging industry has right now to adapt to the changing business climate.
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Sam Keller: What effects are you noticing that the concerns of sustainability have on the office supplies and hardware industry?
Peter Mayhew: Sustainability is a major concern for the office printing industry. We are seeing governments, environmentalists, and customers all taking a close interest in how we manage the resources we consume. On one continent we are facing industry regulation to improve energy efficiency and facilitate alternative supplies. In the US, governments are incentivizing states and businesses to improve the environmental performance of products and services. There is also growing interest in accreditation logos, too.
Consumers with their interest in being greener can, and are, driving change in the industry. Over recent years we have seen rapid growth in the use of inkjet printers fitted with bulk ink tanks rather than disposable cartridges. These printers come with enough ink to last for several years and, when they do run out of ink, they are conveniently refilled from easily recyclable bottles. Subscription services for supplies with home delivery have also grown rapidly. Both these innovations save transportation journeys to the store while reducing production and waste.
SK: With the opportunity that businesses can extend the life of their products with remanufactured hardware, how well do they utilize them? Do you think businesses are taking advantage of remanufacturing and recycling enough?
PM: The remanufactured hardware market is in its infancy and has so much potential. There are only a few manufacturers offering “factory certified” products. Yet, we are seeing an increase in the number of enterprises and authorities requiring more managed print services (MPS) hardware placements to be remanufactured or refurbished. That is an opportunity for both OEMs and channel partners—and a competitive risk for those unable to meet the demand.
That said, we do need a “step-change” in our attitude towards reuse in the industry. We need to “gear-up” for reuse with investment in remanufacturing plants and skills. Localization is key. Easy to say, not so easy to do, and the implications are very significant. So, no, I do not believe we are doing enough to take advantage of remanufacturing and recycling opportunities. Demand is growing. Viable markets for reused products exist today. However, in some parts of the industry, we still actively discourage reuse.
SK: As citizens are growing anxious for the government to take action to protect the environment, we are seeing an uptick in regulations across the globe. What impact are these regulations having on the supplies and hardware industry and how do they vary by region?
PM: It’s not just regulation that is in development, either. A range of standards, accreditations, and certifications are being revised to reflect the need to improve environmental performance.
For example, the European Commission is considering an array of measures to regulate questionable practices in the industry and drive improvements in environmental performance. Some of the Commissions proposals, such as a standard industry wide shape for cartridges, could be considered draconian. Fortunately, many manufacturers are responding with greater transparency of current performance levels. Innovative and more sustainable products and services will follow.
A recent example is just last week Fujifilm Business Innovation announced it is increasing production by 30% of its Super EA-eco toner, which has the advantage of melting at low temperatures and can be fused at a temperature approximately 30°-35°C lower than a conventional EA (emulsion aggregation) toner, thus reducing power consumption. The Super EA-eco toner also boasts the industry’s smallest class of toner particle size, which can result in improved image quality.
North America is a different proposition where economic incentives and market-based policies are designed to change consumption and production habits with regulations available, should they be necessary. Right to repair is an example of an approach that will impact the way office print hardware is designed in the future.
SK: One aspect of regulation is the transparency to the end-consumer purchasing printers and supplies on the sustainability of these products. This transparency would include providing highly technical metrics involving environmental science and engineering. As they provide information to consumers on how sustainable their products are, how can they make the information accessible to non-scientists and engineers?
PM: Customers rely heavily on ecolabels and other certifications to demonstrate that they are making responsible purchases. However, even highly respected organizations behind some accreditation logos may have a tardy approach to the policing of their qualifying criteria and to the products to which they are applied.
One solution under consideration for many types of electronic goods (including print hardware) is a digital passport. The concept is a QR code that is attached to each device and records information such as usage, repair history, and disposal instructions. Anyone can simply scan the QR code and access the information, which would be protected from hacking in some way. However, buyer beware still remains an important mantra for everyone from consumers to purchasing officers.
SK: Overall, what advice do have for businesses to address the topic of sustainability in the supplies and hardware industry? What would you like to see happen, and how can they benefit by taking action—and as soon as possible?
PM: For those in the manufacturing sector of our industry, if you do not already have energy-efficient designs on the drawing board and are not reviewing capacity to allow for remanufacturing, get started now! If you do not, you will miss the opportunity and may not survive. For those in the supplies sector, new business models will be needed to accommodate for reuse.
Responsibility for the way the industry uses the resources provided by planet earth rests with us all, not just the manufacturers. We have to drop our addiction to the linear “make, consume, and dispose” business model and take the bold decisions to embrace reuse, in all its forms. Sustainability niches are growing into mainstream opportunities now, and “first in, wins” is very true in this market.
Download the recent “Regulating for Sustainability: What Could It Mean for Document Printing” report by Peter and Office Group Director Deborah Hawkins on the effects of sustainability regulations in the document imaging industry.
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Read More of Peter Mayhew’s Blogs
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