Article updated March 7, 2023
We all know it's important to take care of our environment, and chances are you're already doing your part by throwing plastics and glass containers into the big blue recycling bins. You may also be using energy-efficient appliances, which help conserve precious resources.
What you may not know is that there are other ways to be green that might surprise you. Ways that are kind to the environment and your wallet. One way is through your printer! How?
The answer is in remanufactured ink cartridges. Many people don't realize that using these cartridges can help reduce waste and save money. But what are they? Keep reading to find out more about the benefits of using remanufactured ink and toner cartridges!
What Is a Remanufactured Ink Cartridge and How Is It Made?
You're about to print out 10 pages of that important document and you've run out of ink! What do you do?
Sure, you could just run to the store and buy a new ink cartridge off the shelf every time you're running low on ink. But did you know that there's a more sustainable way to get your hands on printing supplies? It's called cartridge remanufacturing, and it's not only good for the environment—it's also one of the most cost effective ways for a customer to refill their printer ink.
Remanufactured printer ink or toner cartridges are created by recycling used or empty cartridges. Knowing this, you might envision a cartridge that has been simply refilled with printer ink. However, the process of remanufacturing ink is much more complex than simply adding more ink to an empty cartridge.
In fact, remanufactured ink is made from recycled cartridges that have been taken apart, cleaned, carefully inspected, and then the container is refilled with new ink. This process is completed by professionals in a factory setting, meaning that quality control is typically much higher than someone simply filling up a cartridge at home using refill kits bought from a store or random website.
The strict quality control ensures that each printer cartridge is guaranteed to work with the model of printers it is designed for. Additionally, many times remanufactured ink can actually be higher quality than traditional printer ink, as it often contains new and improved pigment levels. Each word on each page of paper will look crisp and clean, just as intended!
Before we move on, let's talk about the impact that traditional printer cartridges have on the environment.
How Ink Impacts The Environment
Manufacturing
Traditional ink and toner cartridge manufacturing has a tremendous environmental impact. In the process of creating one cartridge, 4.8 kilograms of CO2 is emitted. In addition, the toner itself emits approximately 3.2kg of CO2 during its production. This may seem like a small amount, but the average manufacturer of toner cartridges produces around 200,000 cartridges per month. This cumulatively contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in the environment.
Additionally, when you buy a new OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cartridge, you are buying something that has been manufactured using 2 to 5 pints of oil (ink requires 2 pints, while toner requires 5). That's a lot of material that goes into the process of creating the ink that you find in the store.
Landfills
But it's not just the production of an ink cartridge or toner cartridge that can account for the effect on the environment. It's once they have been used for printing and are empty that they have the greatest impact.
An estimated 80% of ink and toner cartridges are thrown away instead of being recycled. That adds up to over 350 million each year! And once a printer ink cartridge hits the landfill, it's there to stay. The full breakdown and decomposition of empty ink cartridges could take up to 1000 years, according to experts.
How can this high environmental cost be reduced? There is a solution- remanufactured cartridges are an environmentally friendly choice that have much fewer environmental consequences.
How Remanufacturing Ink or Toner Cartridges Helps Reduce Environmental Waste
One way that small businesses can reduce their environmental waste is by purchasing remanufactured printer ink. Remanufacturing toner cartridges and other printer supplies helps to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills, and it also cuts down on the use of resources needed to create new products.
In addition, remanufactured printer supplies often cost less than brand new supplies, which can help a customer save money while supporting the recycling industry and creating less demand for new resources.
Vote with your wallet.
As a customer and consumer, opting to use remanufactured ink in your printer is a great way to reduce your environmental impact and save money at the same time.
The Benefits of Using Remanufactured Ink Cartridges
So let's recap.
When you choose to use remanufactured ink cartridges, you're doing your part to help the environment and your pocket book. Here's how:
-Remanufactured ink cartridges are recycled from used or empty cartridges. This means that fewer resources are needed to produce new ink cartridges, which can save energy and reduce waste.
-Remanufactured ink is often less expensive than brand-new ink cartridges.
-Remanufactured ink cartridges often perform just as well as - or even better than - brand-new cartridges, providing excellent value.
The InkJets Team Is Here To Help!
Doing your part to save the planet while keeping your printing expenses down is always a great move. InkJets has been in the industry for more than two decades. If you need help saving on your printing costs by using remanufactured ink, then don’t hesitate to contact our team at InkJets.com today!
