Environment
About
Supporting a Recycling-Oriented Society
Initiatives for Products
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- Product Design to Save Resources
Example 1: Digital X-ray Imaging Device
Example 2: TAC Film (Protective Film for Polarizing Plates)
Example 3: Textile Printer
Example 4: A MFP Designed for Recyclability - Reuse and Recycling of Business Information Products
Recovery and Recycling Printer Cartridges
Recovery and Recycling of Used MFPs and Printers - Procurement of Copy Paper
Product Design to Save Resources
Konica Minolta is conserving resources by making its products more compact and lightweight, and by implementing recycling-oriented design
Making products lighter and more compact reduces the amount of raw materials used and saves energy during manufacturing. It also contributes significantly to reducing environmental impacts when products are disposed.
By further developing its core technologies, Konica Minolta is working aggressively to develop new products that are more compact and lightweight with improved performance, employing new methods that place fewer burdens on the environment. In addition, the company is pursuing product design that considers recycling from the standpoint of effective resource utilization.
Example 1: Digital X-ray Imaging Device
REGIUS MODEL 110 X-ray digitizer
The REGIUS MODEL 110 X-ray digitizer for the health clinic market features a compact design 71% lighter than the previous model.
Example 2: TAC Film (Protective Film for Polarizing Plates)
TAC (triacetyl cellulose) film is used for protecting the polarizing plates of liquid crystal displays. The company developed a thin film type with half the thickness of previous films, thereby reducing the materials and resources used by half.
Example 3: Textile Printer
The company is developing a digital inkjet textile printer for the color printing of fabrics using dyes and other materials. The printer is designed to have a low environmental impact.
In contrast to conventional screen printing, this printing system does not require the production of plates or mixing of printing paste, thereby achieving quick turnaround for production of small, mixed lots. Since no plates are produced, only the necessary amount of ink is used, and because washing and disposal of plates is not required, the amount of resources used and the amounts of waste produced are substantially reduced.
Example 4: A MFP Designed for Recyclability
Outer casing plastic part of an MFP
The company created its Manual for Recyclability Design to facilitate the easy removal of parts and resources that can be recycled from disposed MFPs. This recyclability design is being standardized throughout the company.
For example, for all MFP models the types of plastics used for the outer casing parts are limited to two, thereby achieving a closed material recycle.
In addition, the company is recycling the plastic used for printer exteriors, which are required to possess high-quality appearance, strength, and flame resistance. Konica Minolta has installed a special crusher for plastic components at its recycling site, and by enhancing its system for eliminating foreign material, a high level of purity in recycled plastics can be achieved.
Reuse and Recycling of Business Information Products
Recovery and Recycling Printer Cartridges
Clean Planet Program site
Konica Minolta has established a system for free-of-charge recovery and recycling of used toner cartridges in 18 European countries, as well as in the U.S. Puerto Rico and Japan. In North America and Europe, this system is called the Clean Planet Program.
Recovery and Recycling of Used MFPs and Printers
To facilitate the recovery and recycling of used products, Konica Minolta has established systems that are suited to the regulations and markets of respective countries around the world.
In Japan, the company has received approval from the Ministry of the Environment to recover MFPs, copiers, and printers sold in Japan based on a special system for wide-area treatment of industrial waste.
Konica Minolta operates a fee-based recovery program for collecting and recycling used laser printers and copiers from corporate clients. At this time, the program does not handle used equipment disposed of by individual customers, as such equipment is classified as general waste.
Outside Japan, Konica Minolta is undertaking recycling programs tailored for specific countries and their markets. In Europe, the company has adopted measures in conformity with the EU directive on the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
Procurement of Copy Paper
Procuring Copy Paper in Consideration of Forest Resource Conservation
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Co., Ltd., a sales company of information technology equipment in Japan, has established the PPC Paper Purchase Standards, which have been implemented since 2007. The Standards stipulate that copy paper to be supplied to customers should be procured taking into account the impact of forest destruction and degradation on living environments of animals, plants, and people.
