Output Management – Environmental Issues

Some estimates claim that office print is the 2nd largest source of pollution in the US, the only larger source of pollution is from cars!!
However, despite its damaging environmental impact there are very few discussions in the Governments and even less regulations and guidelines on this matter.
Here are some interesting facts for you to consider:
The production of 1 ton of paper consumes the same amount of energy as the production of 1 ton of steel.
30 % of all trees logged in the US are intended for the paper industry.
An efficient manufacturer of paper will use 1 litre of water to produce 3 sheets of A4.
It takes about a gallon of oil to make each new toner cartridge.
In North America alone, over 350 million cartridges per year are discarded in landfills, and this figure increases by 12 percent annually.
B&W toner contains at least 6 different substances that are listed as hazardous and toxic, especially polluting the water supplies. Toner is actually pure poison:

  • Cetylpyridinchloride  
  • Zinchydrabenzophat
  • Pigment Red 48 Barium Salt
  • CAS-nr. 102561-46-6
  • CAS-nr. 116810-46-9
  • CAS-nr. 1223312-54-9

All of the above chemicals are listed as hazardous and toxic, especially polluting the water supplies.

If we look at an organization of 1,000 average users, the environmental effects are estimated to be:

Quantity of paper

10 million sheets

Weight of paper

52 tons

Weight of pulp

110 tons

Water used in the production of the paper

3.5 million litres

Energy used in the production of the paper

0.3 million KwH

Weight of toner used (at 5% coverage)

260 kilos

CO2 emissions

12.5 tons

SO2 emissions

15,000 kilos

Demand for chemical Oxygen

15,000 kilos

Our Output Management Solutions can have a positive effect on the impact that printing has on the environment by reducing the need for complete reprints, utilizing on-line report management and distribution technologies and optimising consumable usage; whilst at the same time delivering higher levels of efficiency, service and cost reductions.