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Printing Business Develops its Ink Cartridge Remanufacturing Capabilities
Aiming to Maximize Resource Circulation
Brother's printers and All-in-Ones are used by a wide range of customers around the world. There are two main types of printing methods: laser and inkjet. With the laser printing method, colored powder known as “toner” is fused onto paper using heat, whereas with the inkjet method, liquid ink is sprayed directly onto the paper. Toner and ink are each supplied in a special container called a “cartridge” which need replacing with new ones when they run out. For over 20 years, Brother has been collecting used toner cartridges, which they remanufacture to the same quality as new cartridges at their carbon-neutral remanufacturing facilities, and then sell them to customers to be used again. With this extensive experience, Brother has also developed a similar initiative to collect and remanufacture used ink cartridges in Europe.
Related SDGs
Achieving the Brother Group Environmental Vision 2050
Toner Cartridge Remanufacturing
By 2050, Brother aims to maximize its resource circulation to ensure the sustainable use of resources and to minimize waste, as stated in its Environmental Vision 2050. As a representative effort of this resource circulation initiative, Brother has been actively remanufacturing toner cartridges used in laser All-in-Ones and printers in its core printing business. The initiative, which began in Europe in 2004, has since spread worldwide. During this time, the Brother Group as a whole has remanufactured over 40 million toner cartridges. In FY2023, the Brother Group as a whole remanufactured 2.7 million toner cartridges, contributing to a reduction of 4,700 tons of CO2 emissions and 1,000 tons of virgin materials. With the success of their toner remanufacturing program, Brother was keen to extend this knowledge and experience to the remanufacturing of ink cartridges – but this wasn’t without its challenges.
The associated challenges of Ink Cartridge Remanufacturing
Ink Cartridge Remanufacturing
One of the biggest challenges they faced when looking at remanufacturing ink cartridges was the amount of additional work required (in comparison to toner cartridge remanufacturing), whilst trying to maintain the highest quality, at a fair price for the customer. It’s a costly and complex process that requires an increased level of work to thoroughly inspect and clean the cartridges so that they can be used again.
Utilizing Their Extensive Knowledge of Toner Cartridge Remanufacturing
Brother is able to develop its ink cartridge processes through its years of experience in remanufacturing toner cartridges. Its remanufacturing facilities in Europe have been remanufacturing toner cartridges for more than two decades and have maintained zero waste-to-landfill certification since 2013. The company has applied this knowledge and expertise to ink remanufacturing, resulting in more efficient operations for processes like sorting, cleaning, and inspection, which are essential for remanufacturing ink cartridges. Additionally, it has implemented technology for quality control that tracks how many times a cartridge has been remanufactured, as well as focusing on designing cartridges that are easier to remanufacture.
Providing Products that are Friendly to Customers and the Environment
In 30 European countries*1, Brother printer customers can return their ink cartridges free of charge when replacing them, using a freepost envelope or bulk box return option*2.
These returned used ink cartridges are remanufactured at their carbon-neutral remanufacturing facilities in Europe, where they go through over 100 steps and are transformed to the same quality as new ink cartridges for customers to use again.
Brother continues to innovate and take on new challenges, with the aim of providing products that are friendly to both customers and the environment.
*1 As of September 2024.
*2 Return options may differ between countries.
Ink Cartridge Remanufacturing (Figures in the video are as of September 2024)
SDGs goal 12, “responsible consumption and production,” aims to ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns and includes the target “substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse” (12.5). Remanufacturing ink cartridges reduces waste in the home and office and contributes to the growth of a sustainable society.
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