IDC study reveals up to 20 percent of cartridges sold in Western Europe in 2012 were new-built compatibles.
A new study conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC) to understand the level of penetration, channel and sales practices, end-user perception and end-of-life processes of new-built compatible (NBC) cartridges has found that a significant proportion of cartridges sold in the EMEA region during 2012 were NBC products, with up to 20 percent of those sold in Western Europe and 22 percent of those sold in Russia being compatible rather than OEM cartridges.
Overall, IDC estimates that the EMEA market for third-party toner cartridges in 2012 was worth around $3 billion (€2.3 billion), excluding counterfeits; with the market growing “very quickly” in the last few years, particularly due to the economic downturn.
However, the study also highlights some concerns regarding NBC cartridges, with emphasis placed on their environmental impact. According to the study, the majority of these products are not collected back once they have been used and are not recycled in an environmentally friendly way.
A further finding of the study was that most NBC cartridges are purchased by small and medium businesses in the private sector, although there is also evidence of penetration in the public sector.
Commenting on the results of the study, Mario Lombardo, Associate Research Manager for IDC’s Imaging, Printing, and Document Solutions group, said: “The last few years have seen a boom in NBC toner cartridge sales in EMEA. Despite many legal disputes started by OEMs, the market for NBC has managed to flourish, partly thanks to inconsistent regulation throughout EMEA. This unique IDC study on NBC toner cartridges is now raising new concerns about environmental sustainability as it reveals a lack of end-of-life procedures for these products.”