Remanufacturers Applaud New EU Green Policy

Remanufacturers Applaud New EU Green Policy

Printer cartridge remanufacturers in Europe have welcomed new criteria introduced by the EU to reduce the environmental footprint of printers and cartridges purchased through public tenders.

The new Green Procurement Policy (GPP) Criteria for Imaging Equipment applies to printers, copiers, multifunctional devices and scanners. Remanufactured cartridges are favored making it easier for public authorities to embrace sustainable printing.

The new criteria also include requirements for printers’ plastics, chemicals and emissions. These have been developed by the EU’s scientific body—the Joint Research Centre (JRC)—since 2018 and approved by the EU Commission in late July 2020.

At this stage, it is not mandatory for public bodies to use remanufactured supplies when they solicit offers for imaging equipment and consumables through tenders. However, the guide will prove useful in the process.

The European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) had lobbied the EU for two years on this policy and insisted that cartridge reuse should be a vital part of the new criteria.

ETIRA responded positively to the EU announcement. Its president, Javier Martinez (pictured) said, “The introduction of this new list of criteria within the European Union is an encouraging step forward towards a more sustainable future for the printing and ink and toner cartridge industry.”

He added, “By including a clear preference for remanufactured cartridges in the 2020 GPP criteria, the EU confirms that in terms of environmental performance, reusing your cartridge is better than buying a new one each time.

Martinez concluded that ETIRA members will raise awareness of the criteria in EU countries to encourage public authorities to use the GPP criteria.

The GPP is made up of two elements – ‘core criteria’ designed to allow for easy application, focusing on the environmental performance of a product, and ‘comprehensive criteria’ for use by authorities that want to lead the way in supporting innovative environmental goals.

Key takeaways from the new policy are outlined below, with the full criteria available here.

• Printers must comply with EU regulations on REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) and other regular EU rules and laws.
• Printers must meet standards for emissions, noise, energy consumption, and not contain hazardous substances beyond limits.
• They must offer warranties and allow the use of remanufactured cartridges and any firmware update must not hinder the use of reused or remanufactured consumables.
• Take-back programmes are also requested, and there are criteria for consumables supplied under a managed print contract. Cartridges must comply with page yield standards and must not be designed to limit the ability to reuse or remanufacture them.

ETIRA, formed in 2003, is a Belgian registered non-profit organisation that represents the interests of the inkjet and toner cartridge remanufacturers and related service providers and is the recognised industry body for all topics affecting the industry. ETIRA provides many services to its members: legal and regulatory advice, public relations, environmental impacts, quality and standardisation forums and member contact platforms. ETIRA also manages a remanufacturing Code of Conduct and the ticked-R collective mark assuring consumers of less expensive but 100% environment-friendly remanufactured cartridges.

Contacts: Secretary General: Vincent van Dijk (pictured), info@etira.org, Tel: + 31-6-414-614-63

Related:

• ETIRA Demands Environment Action from the EU
• Industry Body Urges HP to Change its Firmware Updates

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