Containers and packaging make up a large proportion of household garbage, and governments are introducing regulations to promote recycling of such materials in the aim of reducing volumes of waste. At the same time, many companies are taking initiatives to make their containers and packaging more environmentally friendly. Seiko Epson Corporation ("Epson") aims to be a leading environmental company, and its Imaging Products Operations Division, which is responsible for finished products business, is striving to create environmentally friendly packaging.
A Basic Index for Inkjet Printer Product Packaging
In improving its product packaging, the Imaging Products Operations Division
uses an index measuring the ratio of packaging volume to product volume. With the help of this index, the division aims to develop compact packaging that saves resources while also fulfilling the fundamental functions required of any packaging, namely protecting products from shock resulting from external knocks or drops. The ability of a product to withstand shock differs according to its type (e.g., printers, optional items, consumables). A target packaging volume ratio is set for each product category and continual improvements are made. Waste-free, compact product packaging has economic benefits such as greater efficiency in transportation,
and this is an example of how raising environmental performance can lead to
improved business performance.
Packaging materials comply with ecolabelling standards in each country, and as
part of such requirements packaging must be halogen-free. Polystyrene foam
is used as cushioning material because of the need for product packaging to
withstand shock, but having solved the problem of shock-resistance in small
inkjet printers the division is working on the use of pulp mold as a more environmentally responsible alternative to polystyrene foam for these products.
Standard Global Packaging: Environmentally Friendly Boxes for Ink Cartridges
Environmentally friendly packaging for large-format printer consumables is a
good example of the improvements Epson is making. These improved boxes won Epson an Electric Equipment Packaging Category Award in the Japan Packaging Contest 2007 and a prize in the international WorldStar 2007 Packaging Awards.
Large-Format Printer Ink Cartridges:
Issues and Improvements Epson used to have numerous types of boxes for large-format printer ink cartridges, depending on factors such as unit type, color, model number, and specifications in the country of sale.
This resulted in a number of problems: (1) A single unit type required a different style of box for each ink cartridge
color; (2) box designs for the same unit type differed according to the country
of sale; (3) box inventory volumes varied widely depending on color; and (4)
costs were high because boxes were produced using full seven color printing.
To take one example, Epson handled a total of 30 different types of boxes for
110 ml seven-color printer cartridges – 16 types for Japan and 14 types for
other markets.
To resolve these issues, the operations division worked with sales and manufac-
Old-style 110 ml ink cartridge boxes – a worldwide total of 30 types Copyright of Seiko Epson Corporation, February 2008 turing companies worldwide to launch
a complete review of packaging specifications aimed at achieving standard global
packaging. Firstly, in February 2006 a proposal was made to sales companies
suggesting a switch to packaging based on unprinted white boxes using the
same quality material as the old-style boxes (coated board made from 80% recycled
paper). However, it was not possible to gain their agreement. The idea of
a full range of packaging made from environmentally friendly materials was
put forward to convince sales agents around the globe, and the top-priority
goal became making packaging suited to such materials and introducing it as a
common standard. In developing the new packaging, the size of the boxes
was kept the same as before to ensure there was no impact on other packaging
products or transportation. Through a process of trial and error, a switch was
ultimately made to new packaging that met with the agreement of sales companies.
The new brown boxes are made from kraft board (100% recycled paper)
with a design featuring a section printed in black and white. Standard global
specifications include printing in seven languages, with different labels being attached for information specific to each product.
Epson's Imaging Products R&D Engineering General Center played a key role
in the development of the new packaging. "It took a lot of hard work to make
this box the new global standard," recalls Yasuko Hirano, a supervisor at the
center. "One hundred percent recycled paper has a rough surface and 'black
spots' appear on it, so for these and many other reasons print quality is unstable.
To overcome these problems and ensure print quality we paid careful attention
to the font used for the lettering and through repeated trial and error we
finally managed to settle on the current font. For the labels we were particular
about using on-demand printing, which only prints the necessary quantities as
they are needed during the packaging process. Working closely together, technology
development departments managed to create a printing system using Epson laser printers."
Improvements Achieve a New Link between Ecology and Economy
For goods shipped from December 2006 onward the new packaging has been used consistently as the global common standard, and it has also been used for new large-format printer models launched after that time. The introduction of these globally standardized environmentally friendly boxes for largeformat printer ink cartridges has achieved a new link between ecology (reducing environmental impact) and economy
(reducing costs). The packaging chiefly reduces environmental impact in
the following two ways.
- Effective use of resources
Shifting to 100% recycled paper reduces the amount of virgin pulp used by the company, while switching from full color printing to a section printing in black and white reduces the amount of ink used.
- Reduction of waste materials
Common standards reduce the amount of printing artwork required, while the combination of common standards and on-demand printing of
labels resolves the problem of unused inventory.
At the same time, the switch to global standard ink cartridge boxes achieved
an overall cost reduction of more than 30 percent, due to lower packaging
costs resulting from reconsideration of the materials used and lower costs for
printing artwork.
Future Plans
Epson's "Action 2010" General Environmental Policy aims to boost overall corporate capabilities through environmental activities that link ecology and
economy. The new global standard environmentally friendly packaging for largeformat printer inkjet cartridges is a prime example of this concept. Epson will continue to actively engage in environmental activities that link ecology and economy.
*Note
This information was correct at the time of issue. Epson does not update or delete any information that has become out-of-date.
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