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As a market analyst focused on the print industry, I spend a fair amount of time immersed in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments of major vendors such as Canon, HP, and Xerox. So, when Katun Corporation released its 2025 ESG Report for EMEA, I was curious: Could an aftermarket provider meaningfully stand alongside the ESG giants of our industry?
The short answer is “yes,” and, in some areas, they’re outpacing them.
Where Katun Leads: Circular Economy in Action
Let’s start with the heart of Katun’s ESG narrative: The circular economy. While all major OEMs talk about product lifecycle and material reuse, Katun has built its business model around remanufacturing and refilling. Its ecoKAP cartridge is a perfect example as an aftermarket, refillable toner cartridge made with over 60% recycled plastic that can be refilled up to three times—that’s real, measurable waste avoidance.
Lifecycle assessment data is equally compelling. Refilled A3 toner cartridges have 84% less environmental impact than new-build OEM cartridges. And while Canon and HP have established closed-loop toner systems and use significant amounts of recycled plastics in new cartridges, Katun’s reuse-first model arguably offers a stronger circularity story. It’s lean, targeted, and efficient.
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Carbon Neutral Shipping and Tree Planting: Punching Above Their Weight
Katun’s partnership with UPS through the Carbon Neutral program has already offset over 179 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions from EMEA shipments. That may be modest compared to HP’s or Xerox’s global logistics, but it’s proportionally significant for a regional operation.
Their PrintReleaf initiative also stands out with over 17,000 trees planted via a verified, trackable platform that links printed page volumes to reforestation. HP and Lexmark have broader reforestation goals, but Katun’s direct reseller/customer integration through dashboards adds a layer of engagement that OEMs could learn from.
Packaging and Product Portfolio: Agile and Ambitious
Katun’s adoption of ecoink (water-based ink with 90%-95% recyclability and 30% lower carbon impact than oil-based alternatives) for 55% of its packaging, along with plans to transition 60 more products to plastic-free by 2026, shows quick execution.
Meanwhile, Katun’s “green” product share sits at 34% and it’s aiming for 45% by 2026. That includes remanufactured toner, recycled plastics, and certified Nordic Swan cartridges. That’s arguably more concentrated than Canon’s or Xerox’s eco-product lines, which often span hardware, consumables, and broader IT solutions but aren’t always clearly quantified.
Where OEMs Hold the Advantage
Of course, ESG is broader than remanufacturing and reforestation. The major OEMs bring a lot for climate governance, transparency, and global ambition. HP’s published net-zero target by 2040, alignment with SBTi, and 200+ page ESG reports are leagues ahead of Katun’s more focused but less formal overview.
Canon and Xerox report to be in-line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) frameworks, and Lexmark’s participation in the Science Based Targets initiative also signals strong climate commitment. Katun’s report—while refreshingly readable—lacks emissions baselining, Scope 3 disclosures, and a firm pathway to net-zero.
Socially, Katun’s focus on diversity, flexible working, and leadership development is solid—especially with 50/50 gender representation in leadership roles. But again, the OEMs (particularly Xerox) bring decades of formalized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming and community investment that’s hard to match at Katun’s scale.
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Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
Katun’s 2025 ESG report is a strong example of how an aftermarket player can meaningfully differentiate through sustainability—not just follow the OEM playbook, but rewrite parts of it. Their focus on reusability, low-impact production, and pragmatic offsetting makes their ESG efforts relatable and implementable for resellers and customers alike. Where the OEMs bring sweeping global policies, Katun offers immediate, on-the-ground circular economy action. It's a classic case of agility versus scale.
In my view, Katun isn’t chasing the OEMs—they’re carving out a distinct, sustainability-first aftermarket identity. And as the pressure on all players to reduce environmental impact intensifies, I wouldn’t be surprised to see elements of Katun’s strategy influencing the broader industry conversation.
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