IPW Earns CRPC Certification, Leading the Charge to Restore Integrity and Sustainability in U.S. Toner Remanufacturing.

Denver, CO – June 3, 2025 – This week, Image Projections West (IPW), the largest laser toner remanufacturer in the United States, has earned the prestigious Certified Remanufactured Printer Cartridge (CRPC) certification—marking a major turning point in the fight against counterfeit imports and in the movement to reclaim ethical, sustainable manufacturing on American soil.

For over 30 years, IPW has stood as a principle-centered leader in the imaging supplies industry—committed to quality, innovation, and sustainability. Based in Denver, Colorado, IPW has consistently set the standard for environmentally responsible manufacturing, while supporting local economies through fair-wage employment and high-integrity business practices.

By earning the CRPC certification, IPW reinforces their leadership position, becoming the first toner cartridge manufacturer in the country to meet the rigorous requirements of this new, third-party verified standard.

“This is more than a certification. It’s the restoration of trust,” said Joel Cornuet, General Manager at IPW and board member of the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (CAMA). “CRPC is about restoring integrity to the industry and trust in the products we buy, in the words we use, and in the values we uphold.”

The Crisis That Called for Action
For decades, remanufacturing has been one of the most effective and responsible models of the circular economy. Cartridges from OEMs like HP, Canon, Lexmark, and Xerox are collected, cleaned, rebuilt, and refilled—often multiple times—diverting millions of pounds of plastic and metal from landfills each year. These cartridges are then sold at a fraction of the cost of new ones, creating win-win outcomes for customers and the environment alike. But this model has been under attack.

In recent years, the U.S. has seen an influx of single-use “new compatible” toner cartridges manufactured overseas—largely in China—and fraudulently labeled as “remanufactured” or “eco-friendly.” These products are neither. They are made cheaply, used once – as they cannot be remanufactured and then discarded—leaving behind waste, economic harm, and broken trust.

More disturbing though, is the fact that Ninestar, China’s largest toner cartridge manufacturer, was banned under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which prohibits imports tied to forced labor. Yet, Ninestar continues to flood the U.S. market with new products, undermining American jobs with unethical labor and deceptive marketing.

CRPC: A Principle-Centered Solution
The CRPC standard changes the game. It provides buyers with a clear and trusted benchmark: if it says CRPC-certified, it meets stringent criteria for sustainability, ethical sourcing, and high performance.

This certification ensures that procurement officers, school districts, government agencies, and businesses can purchase products with confidence that they are meeting their environmental mandates and ethical standards—without falling prey to misleading claims or fraudulent suppliers.

“CRPC is the result of years of erosion in trust and integrity,” said Scott Hoch, CRPC co-founder. “It’s our response to deception—with transparency. It’s our answer to exploitation—with fairness. And it’s our commitment to a better future—rooted in principle.”

A Call to Leadership
IPW’s certification is not just an achievement, it’s a challenge. A challenge to the entire industry, to policymakers, and to consumers to raise the bar. To buy better. To lead with values. To stand up for what’s right, even when it’s not easy. “The great hope of any free market is that it will reward value and virtue,” said Joseph Bradley, co-founder of CRPC. “But that only happens when we demand both. CRPC is our way of helping the market tell the truth again.” If you’re committed to environmental stewardship, economic justice, and ethical leadership start by choosing products that carry the CRPC certification. Let’s rebuild this industry. Let’s do it together. And let’s do it right.

Media Contacts
Joel Cornuet
General Manager, Image Projections West
📧 JoelC@ipwusa.com

Scott Hoch
Co-Founder, CRPC
📧 Scott@thecrpc.com

Joseph Bradley
Co-Founder, CRPC
📧 Joseph@thecrpc.com