ETIRA Challenges the Sustainability Claims of Circular Planet

ETIRA Challenges the Sustainability Claims of Circular Planet

Circular Planet, the OEM-led cartridge collection initiative, recently celebrated its first anniversary, touting the collection of 2.6 million print consumables and claiming that nearly 40% were “sent back to OEMs for reuse.” Despite this milestone, ETIRA is raising critical questions about the programme’s transparency, logistics, and genuine commitment to a circular economy.

Details Under Scrutiny

The programme’s reported collection of 2.6 million cartridges accounts for less than 1% of the estimated 300–400 million OEM cartridges entering the European market annually. Of these, only around one million cartridges were purportedly reused. Such figures contrast starkly with the programme’s sustainability claims.

ETIRA also highlights the logistical inefficiencies of Circular Planet’s operations. Cartridges collected in southern Spain may be transported to the Netherlands, processed in Poland, and potentially sent back to their origin. This convoluted supply chain raises serious concerns about the environmental benefits of the initiative, calling into question whether the programme’s actions align with its stated sustainability goals.

Concerns Surrounding Back-to-OEM operations

Circular Planet’s sustainability narrative lacks a clear definition of the term “reuse”. The claim that 40% of collected cartridges are “sent back to OEMs for reuse” offers no guarantee of their actual fate. OEMs could dismantle or recycle these cartridges rather than correctly reuse them. Without transparent reporting, the programme risks accusations of greenwashing.

Circular Planet’s practice of centralising cartridge returns with OEMs poses a direct threat to independent remanufacturers, who have been at the forefront of genuine circularity for over 25 years. By monopolising the collection and reuse of cartridges, OEMs limit access to high-quality reusable cores for smaller players. Furthermore, anti-competitive practices may exist, resembling a cartel-like operation disguised as sustainability.

ETIRA’s Vision for a Sustainable Future

ETIRA calls for urgent reforms to ensure Circular Planet aligns with true circular economy principles:

• Clarify “Reuse”: Clearly define reuse as the continued use of cartridges in their original form, not merely recycling or dismantling.
• Ensure Transparency: Independent audits should track the fate of collected cartridges to hold OEMs accountable.
• Collaborate with the Reuse Sector: Inclusivity is essential for fostering a circular economy that benefits all stakeholders, including independent remanufacturers.

ETIRA stresses that sustainability initiatives must be more than corporate PR exercises. Circular Planet’s second year offers an opportunity to address these concerns, redefine its approach, and genuinely contribute to a sustainable future.

Related:

• ETIRA Targets Compliance & Sustainability in 2025
• Call on ETIRA to Reveal More About Non-compliant Cartridges
• ETIRA Warns of Risks of Non-OEM Cartridges
• ETIRA Encourages Spanish Authority to Embrace Reman Products
• ETIRA Warns of Illegal Cartridges

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