PrintIT Reseller - issue 67

01732 759725 44 VOX POP partners to control theirs, we create business efficiencies, which leads to significant cost savings. Our customers are becoming more environmentally aware and as a result, the focus on sustainability within tenders has increased significantly. By having robust environmental management controls we are able to demonstrate to customers that we can meet their exacting requirements. We also provide products and services that help customers in meeting their own environmental goals by helping them reduce resource consumption such as energy and paper. For example, our new bizhub ECO product ensures customer devices are set-up to minimise environmental impact and allows them to offset carbon. “Finally, by being a genuinely environmentally conscious company, it will allow us to attract the best talent to drive growth and the capacity to safeguard our and the planet’s future.” Daniel Quelch: “Yes, absolutely. I believe that this factor will soon be the difference between business success and failure. However, for us, the main drive towards sustainability comes from our heritage. It has been in our thinking for 75 years – from the opening of our first manufacturing plant – and continues to be embedded in the foundations of our business. While around a quarter of customers say they buy from Epson because of our environmental credentials, our primary focus is on developing high-quality products, with sustainability being an added value. “We have recently reviewed our environmental performance in the second edition of our voluntary, non- financial European sustainability report, ‘ The Green Choice ’. We are taking guidance from sustainability experts and use this annual report to ensure that our efforts continue to align with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the UN’s SDGs. “Whether it provides a competitive advantage or not, our products defy common misconceptions of low-energy consuming devices costing more and compromising on quality or productivity. For example, our business inkjet printers use up to 96 per cent less energy than comparable laser models, while achieving a printing speed of up to 3.5 times faster. To help buyers make an informed choice, we have developed an energy and CO2 savings calculator, where they can easily compare the environmental impact of other printers to Epson inkjet units.” find themselves out of the running for key contracts. It’s not always a case of using environmental accreditations to gain a competitive advantage, but a step that must be taken to keep pace with the competition.” Martin Fairman: “Across the board, organisations are looking to do their bit in helping to reduce environmental damage, so enabling customers with a simple, hassle-free means of participating in CSR initiatives can be a strong selling point. We pride ourselves on the delivery of our global Lexmark Cartridge Collection Programme. In 2018, more than 40 per cent of the total toner cartridges shipped worldwide were Lexmark customers returning their used cartridges for recycling – with none going to landfill. Our goal is to reuse 60 per cent of returned cartridges and supplies by 2022 (we’re currently at 53 per cent).” Gillian Anderson: “Strong environmental performance provides many advantages, all of which make businesses more competitive. By controlling our environmental aspects and encouraging our supply chain Lars Hargaard: “Luckily we see a trend towards extended use of our products. Previously three to four years was a standard lifetime for a business printer, but now five to six years is common.” Jeremy Spencer: “Sustainable products and business practices are becoming a core part of the buying process and we find these issues are increasingly encountered on tenders. We find buyers are asking serious and informed questions about a potential supplier’s environmental credentials – such as ISO 14001, which we have attained – as well as wanting to know what else they are doing to reduce environmental impact and, in so doing, help the buyer do the right thing.” Carlo Longhi: “No sector has escaped the rising pressure to balance operational needs against environmental footprints. We are noticing customers across every industry now looking for ways to work smarter and faster while improving their bottom line and driving sustainability. In the last year, we have seen a spike in customers opting to control costs and improve sustainability metrics by deploying a mix of hardware, software and services designed to achieve those goals. “As we edge closer to a digital future, we are increasingly assisting diverse customers across various industries in managing hard copy archives and converting their data to digital. Searching for cost savings and real-time results, customers are now opting for solutions that influence sustainable behaviour and eliminate unnecessary printing. Services such as the Xerox Print Awareness Tool apply analytics to customer’s printing providing insights into their print behaviour from cost, operational and sustainability perspectives.” Trevor Northfield: “As the impact we have on the environment grows in importance, our customers are insisting on environmentally sustainable products and services that aim to reduce energy PrintIT Reseller: As expectations on corporate responsibility increase, to what extent are sustainable products and business practices driving buying preferences? ...continued Carlo Longhi