Following her visit, she raised the issue in the European Parliament and called for EU support to help fund economically viable and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Speaking to the President of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mrs Yannakoudakis said, “We all know the importance of recycling and it’s a given fact that we would expect paper to be recycled once used. I recently visited a printing company, MBA, in my constituency of London, where I found out more about inkjet printing.
“The complicated process used to recycle inkjet paper makes it an expensive process, and the use of additional bleach means it is not environmentally friendly. Companies such as MBA, who use other forms of printing which are environmentally friendly need to be encouraged and incentives offered to make the process economically more even handed.
“The ink can not be separated easily from the paper, which means much of today’s printed matter can not be recycled. Companies, such as the one I visited in London, who use other forms of printing which are environmentally friendly need to be encouraged and incentives offered to make the process economically more even handed.
“I would also like to see a market-driven solution supported by Member States. A solution where the industry self-regulates with a code of practice in the environmental programme. Nevertheless, the EU has an important role to play in promoting awareness of these issues and supporting alternatives to inkjet printing when and where appropriate.”