*NEWS*KYOCERA & HP @ WAR OVER REMAN-CTGS

[Anonymous]

HP and Kyocera on printer cartridge re-manufacturing and recycling
In
an article about printer cartridge recycling and re-use the point was
made that re-use was environmentally preferable to recycling and a
reference was made to HP over its preference of recycling over re-use.
Scott Canonico, HP’s Manager of Public Policy, got in touch and sent
this message:”We read with interest your article reporting on
InfoTrends’ recently published study, 2007 Supplies Recycling: U.S. and
Europe. In our view, the study does not support re-manufacturer claims
of offering THE environmental choice – and we believe, your
presentation of the findings doesn’t give OEMs credit for the
significant progress made to date.”While re-manufacturers point to the
reduce-reuse-recycle waste hierarchy and claim an environmental
advantage based on reusing cartridges, their environmental record
speaks otherwise. We note the following “key highlights” reported by
InfoTrends (quoted from the report):

*
US re-manufacturers and brokers almost uniformly do not recycle waste
components, as opposed to larger European remanufacturers that recycle
much more frequently (smaller European remanufacturers are similar to
their US counterparts with respect to the recycling of waste).

*
Most re-manufacturers do not want their own cartridges back. Instead,
they want OEM-branded cartridges that were not previously
re-manufactured, also known in the industry as virgin cores or hulks.
Re-manufacturers orient their programs to collect OEM cartridges. Some
limit their collections to OEM brands and charge fees for the return of
previously re-manufactured cartridges.

*
Transparent and public reporting of environmental performance was not
available from any of the re-manufacturers that [InfoTrends] surveyed.

“In
contrast, HP’s recycling program is environmentally sound. Since 1991,
when HP launched Planet Partners, its return and recycling program, we
have processed hundreds of millions of cartridges to recover materials
for use in new products. This return and recycling program is offered
free of charge to customers in 45 countries around the world,
representing almost 90 percent market coverage. In major markets,
returning a cartridge is as simple as affixing a postage-paid label or
placing a cartridge in a postage-paid mailer.”We also note the digital
printing industry’s overall performance, and believe strongly that when
put into context it represents a resounding environmental success
story. For example, InfoTrends reports their estimate that 54 percent
of laser cartridges (all brands in US and Western Europe) are collected
after first use. That is truly remarkable for market-driven, voluntary
efforts, without government intervention. In fact, the State of
California recently reported in its “Biannual Report of Beverage
Container Sales, Returns, Redemption, and Recycling Rates” that the
State’s beverage container recycling rate for “All Materials” (which
includes deposit bottles and cans, and other containers for which
curbside recycling is available) was 57 percent for the period July
through December 2006.”We’re proud of our environmental performance and
are always working to further increase participation in our recycling
programs.”What HP is saying here is that, although re-manufacturers do
re-use printer cartridges their own recycling record for cartridges
that are not re-used is abyssmal. HP, although it does not re-use
cartridges, does recover components for re-use and its recycling record
is impressive.

Yes, it is.
However, it is environmentally
better to re-use printer cartridges than to recycle their components.
It may well be cheaper for consumers to buy re-manufactured cartridges
(re-used ones) too.

What’s in laser toner cartridges?
Concerning
laser printer toner cartridges, there is the point that they generally
contain much more than a cassette full of toner. There will also be a
print drum, a cleaning mechanism and other mechanical components.
During the life of a laser printer the combined drum/toner unit will
need to be replaced many, many times. It makes more sense, one would
think, for the drum to be designed for a longer life so that it doesn’t
need replacing.This is what Kyocera does with its Ecosys laser printers
and copiers. Kyocera makes the point that these use a durable print
drum with a super-hard material coating to provide up to 350,000
printed pages. This contrasts sharply with conventional laser printers,
hich require users to buy a whole new print cartridge every time the
toner runs out.Kyocera doesn’t re-use toner cassettes though. Empty
ones get returned to Kyocera which recycles the plastic material to
make fresh toner cassettes.Kyocera has taken issue with recent HP
advertising placed in channel publications Microscope and Computer
Reseller News (CRN), that asserted customers need only replace toner
during the life of the new HP Colour LaserJet CP3505, thereby reducing
the number of consumables and saving money.The advert’s copy text
stated ‘The new HP color LaserJet CP3505 series not only offers
excellent value for money, but won’t end up costing your customers a
fortune in consumables. Why? Because unlike other brands on the market,
your customer only needs to replace the print cartridge, and nothing
else. No drum, maintenance, fuser, cleaning or transfer kits.’Kyocera
states, ‘This is untrue. The HP CP3505 uses legacy print cartridges
from the HP Colour LaserJet 3600 and 3800 printer series. These
cartridges certainly contain toner but, crucially, they also contain a
print drum, cleaning parts and numerous other mechanical pieces.’

‘It
is absolutely clear that when HP’s advertising says the Colour LaserJet
CP3505 “only requires replacement toner throughout its life. And
nothing else” it is untrue. The drums are simply hidden within the
print cartridges and the user pays accordingly. The packaging for HP
print cartridges states that “HP Print Cartridges are responsible for
70 percent of the printer’s imaging system”; a statement which is not
compatible with claims that the cartridges contain only toner.”HP’s
claim that the Colour LaserJet CP3505 “won’t cost you the earth” is
also misleading. Using data from analyst company Context, the colour
cost per page of the HP Colour LaserJet CP3505 is 7.50p, 61 percent
higher than Kyocera’s equivalent product, the FS-C5025N. The HP’s
monochrome cost per page is 72 percent higher than Kyocera’s.’Ian
Joslin, Kyocera UK’s general manager, said: “For HP to claim that this
technology offers customers a cost saving is ludicrous. HP’s marketing
approach is typical of the ‘smoke and mirrors’ tactics that have been
employed by our competitors for many years. It obscures the short-life,
high-waste nature of their technology and the consequent costs that
will be passed on to users.”“The fact is that the HP Colour LaserJet
CP3505 is a throwaway product, designed to be disposed of at the end of
its short life. To dress this up in claims of economy is disingenuous
and amounts to false advertising.”Peter Maude, a director of analyst
company Charisco, added: “I believe Hewlett-Packard is guilty of an
error of judgement with the misleading wording of its recent
advertising. True – a Colour LaserJet CP3505 user needs replace only
print cartridges under normal low-volume usage. But, there is no
question of the device not having print drums – they are integrated, as
is the cost.”

A complaint has been lodged with the Advertising
Standards Agency by Kyocera regarding this HP advert. HP was unable to
respond in time for this feature.If printer manufacturers stopped
treating drums as consumables, equivalent to toner cassettes, then the
amount of printer-related material to be recycled would be reduced.

[Author]

August 3, 2007 at 12:01 PM