Environment

In 2006 approximately 120 million laser toner and inkjet cartridges will be sold throughout Europe. Regrettably, only about 25% of these units will be recovered for re-use (the preferred EU recycling solution). Each year, K2 operations prevent approximately 2,500 tonnes of printer consumables entering the waste stream.

Whilst the collection and re-sale of used printer cartridges is a commercial activity, the benefit to the environment is incontrovertible.

Even more so, the remanufacturers (our customers) who produce cartridges close the loop. The re-use of the plastic and metal within the cartridge means one less all-new cartridge manufactured by the original equipment manufacturer. It is estimated that it takes about half a litre of crude oil alone to make one toner cartridge.

Remanufactured cartridges are the result of a full loop recycling solution!

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) programmes tend to be limited in that only accept their branded cartridges and not those of other manufacturers. They also limit the range of their own product which can be returned under their programmes.The user does not want to hold separate stocks of empties for each brand of printer / fax machine they use! Companies like K2 Supplies offer a solution for all brands of printer cartridge and provide a re-use solution for over 80% of units collected as opposed to the recycling / re-processing solution offered by many OEM’s.

K2 is committed to an environmental policy supported by our ISO14001 objectives for improving environmental performance. Current activities include:

• All sites use renewable energy
• Energy usage measured and optimal use processes are in place
• Recycled cardboard is used for packaging
• All plastic and cardboard packaging materials are recycled

PDF Documents

	Environmental Policy
	Recycling Process