Ink cartridges and toner cartridges for office equipment with printing function (such as printers, copiers and multifunction devices) are replaced once the ink or toner in them has been used up. Due to the high utilisation of these types of devices, it can be assumed that a significant amount of waste comprising several million empty modules and cartridges will be generated every year, unless the empty cartridges are remanufactured and reused. The objective of awarding the environmental label for remanufactured ink cartridges and toner cartridges (DE-UZ 177) is to reduce the amount of waste and thus make a contribution to the conservation of resources. In addition, the environmental label places requirements on the materials used, the emissions released into the room air during the printing process, the colour former (toner or ink) and the performance characteristics of the ink cartridges and toner cartridges.
Craig McCubbin, Managing Director of Brother Industries UK and Brother’s Global Recycling Technology Centre, said: “We have worked since 2021 to meet the revised Blue Angel criteria. This environmental label demonstrates our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and conserving resources. As one of Europe’s leading sustainability certificates, certification with the Blue Angel also confirms the progress we have made in this area and guarantees to our customers that buying and refurbishing Brother toner cartridges is an environmentally friendly way to print.”
“We are pleased that Brother was the first OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to be awarded the Blue Angel ecolabel based on the revised award criteria for remanufactured toner cartridges (DE-UZ 177). The demanding certification process includes testing of the materials used by Brother and also the fitness for use of the monochrome toner. In addition, the toner has to comply with strict requirements on the release of fine and ultrafine particles during the printing process”, says Christoph Eßer-Ayertey, Head of the RAL Environment business area at RAL gGmbH.