Who would have thought that the day would arrive when printer ink would be more valuable than a glass of Dom Perignon?
And yet, even your least expensive options for printer ink cartridges can set you back a whopping $13 — per ounce. Add to that the fact that over a million ink cartridges are trashed by individuals and businesses each day, contributing to our global pollution problem. These two factors alone give businesses some pretty good reasons to check into ink recycling programs for sustainability — and savings. In this post we will discuss some of the top ways that sustainability can save you money including:
1. Benefits of Using Ink Recycling Programs
2. Remanufactured Ink Cartridges
3. Managed Print Services
4. Extended Yield Cartridges
Ink Recycling Programs: Less Money, Higher Yield
Ink waste is a prevalent problem for our environment, and it’s continuing to grow. With more than 70% of ink cartridges improperly disposed of, volatile compounds are ending up in our groundwater, our soils, and our bodies.
The good news is that there are solid, actionable ways your business can recycle used print cartridges that not only save the environment but save you money as well.
What are some of the most common recycling benefits of using ink recycling programs? They include:
· Getting money back from your old cartridges or discounts on remanufactured ones
· Donating the proceeds of your cartridge recycling efforts to charity
· Contributing to lower global energy usage over time for cartridge manufacturers
· Providing a huge, positive impact to the environment through conservation of energy and resources, less trash, reduced toxicity, and more
Another way to increase sustainability and lower costs is to use remanufactured ink cartridges.
A reputable cartridge remanufacturer will produce ink cartridges that give you better-than-average print quality results and product yields at a significant cost savings. Just make sure that you choose cartridges from a well-known, reputable vendor with a long history of quality products.
Cutting Costs with Managed Print Services
Managed print services (MPS) are another stellar way for businesses to lower costs and increase sustainability efforts. When you use managed print, a third party will oversee all of your printing and perhaps other information technology (IT) needs as well.
Using a managed print service not only frees your office staff to work on more critical tasks, but your MPS provider is capable of foreseeing potential print issues and keeping supplies replenished at an adequate level.
They’ll begin by analyzing your ink, paper, and toner usage along with other office consumables to determine the best, most cost-effective way to meet your printing needs.
With a variety of suppliers and brands to choose from, MPS providers have more reliable sources for ink cartridges and other supplies that are proven to work well with your equipment.
They can easily bypass cheaply-made remanufactured cartridges and supply you with tried-and-true ink cartridges for outstanding performance and high yields.
Besides offering excellent value in terms of cost savings, MPS providers can also ensure your printing processes are highly secure — an important feature in today’s world of digital documents.
The Whole Truth: How Much Can You Save with Extended Yield Cartridges?
If your business is document-heavy, that is, you print a lot of pages per day, then an extended yield print cartridge might be right for your office. With more ink and a higher printing capacity, a high-yield cartridge will prolong the time between cartridges changes and reduce your ink waste.
For example, an Epson 220 standard cartridge prints 175 pages while their Epson 220XL high yield cartridge prints 450. If purchased at a leading retailer, the high yield cartridge would save you .01 per printed page.
However, your MPS provider can generally realize even greater cost savings for you by purchasing remanufactured cartridges through their network of trusted vendors.
Ready to Get Sustainable — and Save Money?
Once you know the recycling facts, it’s easy to see how making a few key changes — like using extended-yield cartridges, remanufactured cartridges, or a company that has a strong recycling plan to manage your print services — can save money.
But your bottom line isn’t the only thing affected when you choose sustainability when deciding on print and other office technology. The environment benefits from reduced ink waste, lowered pollution rates, and a decreased burden on landfills.
Being able to tell your target audience that your company cares about the environment and actively pursues policies and practices that place a high premium on sustainability builds trust and relationship. Many consumers, particularly Millennials, are looking to patronize businesses that practice socially responsible marketing and use environmentally-friendly tactics to get the job done. Establishing a strong ink recycling program can help you capitalize on this trend.
If you’re ready to discuss the wide range of possibilities we have that can target ink waste and cost savings in your office, contact ASE Inc. today to chat with one of our knowledgeable print experts.