Article written by
Cassandra Brennan – Marketing Manager at Red Bus Cartridges
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT – ONE CARTRIDGE AT A TIME
In 2017, are we really as savvy
about recycling, reusing and reducing our impact on the environment as we’d
like to think? We can be confident about how to deal with most household waste
for example, but there are items that you probably use on a daily basis at
home, at school or in the office that could be recycled multiple times and
benefit both your pocket as well as the environment.
One such example is laser
toner cartridges. Approximately 60 million are sold in Europe alone each year,
and yet only a small percentage (around 25%) of those cartridges actually go
onto to be remanufactured. The process
of remanufacturing is one that many people may still not be fully aware of, but
one that is worthwhile knowing a little about.
Once an OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) toner cartridge is sent to be recycled, there are a
number of processes it goes through before it can be given a new lease of life
as a remanufactured product.
Firstly, the cartridge is
tested to ensure that it is fully functional before any remnants of existing
toner powder are removed and the cartridge is thoroughly cleaned. Secondly, any worn or damaged parts are
identified and then replaced to ensure that the finished product is as close to
the original as possible. Finally, the
cartridge is refilled using a specially formulated toner powder and is subject
to a number of quality and print performance tests before it can be packaged
and sold.
Something else you may be
interested to hear is that remanufactured toner cartridges – as well as being
environmentally friendly – can be much cheaper than their original
counterparts. This isn’t to say that
there has to be a compromise in quality though; remanufactured toners can
match, and often exceed the page yield of an OEM, and they fit and function
exactly the same way in your printer.
It sounds straight forward
doesn’t it? It seems like a process that it quite transparent, and not only
does it prevent toner cartridges ending up in landfill, but because
remanufacturing companies such as Red Bus Cartridges only repair the
elements of a cartridge that are damaged or worn, the creation of waste is
reduced. Furthermore, as they state that
they produce everything in one place, under one roof, they not only have
complete control over the production process, but it goes a long way in helping
to reduce their carbon footprint too.
So, now you know how OEM toner
cartridges can be recycled and given a renewed purpose in (office stationery)
life through the process of remanufacturing. You also know that you can save
money in comparison to buying an original cartridge, so should you be inclined
to want to save money as well as the planet, a remanufactured cartridge would
be the way to go.