Remanufactured cartridges favoured under criteria published by EU Commission, while use of smart chips barring use of remanufactured products in printers are outlawed.
ETIRA has announced the news that the EU Commission published new criteria for the EU Ecolabel on 31 December after three years of “intense lobbying” from the association, with the criteria deemed a “boost” for toner and inkjet remanufacturers in the EU.
The EU Ecolabel for imaging equipment will be awarded only to printers that accept remanufactured cartridges and that were designed to take the reuse of cartridges into consideration; with the new criteria stating that anti-reutilisation devices and practises are not to be present or applied.
Furthermore, OEMs will be required to include the message: “The cartridges of this equipment are designed for reuse. It is recommended to reuse the cartridge as this is saving resources” in the instruction manual of any Ecolabel-approved printer; and must offer a take-back system to their customers for the return of toner and ink modules and containers that have been supplied or recommended by the OEM for use in the product, in order to send the items back for reuse or, if they are unable to be reused, recycling.
Third parties like remanufacturers and cartridge brokers may also be subcontracted to implement a take-back system, but will be provided with instructions for correct handling of residual toner.
Commenting on the new criteria, Vincent van Dijk, Secretary General of ETIRA, said: “The new imaging equipment Ecolabel criteria are the clearest evidence yet that the EU Commission prefers remanufacturing of cartridges, as they are the best eco-friendly solution. The EU finally acknowledged that clever chips are the key handicap to reuse, and that these devices and practices are not allowed on any printer that wants to qualify under the Ecolabel logo.”
As the new criteria will be applicable until late 2017, van Dijk said it is expected that OEMs will gradually introduce increasing numbers of printer models that comply with them: “The new criteria on toner/ink chemical properties, emissions, noise, etcetera are very cumbersome, so the OEMs may initially be reluctant to build printers that can meet the Ecolabel criteria. But ETIRA expects that in the long run, OEMs will have no choice but to comply.”
He added that the criteria could become the “gold standard” for all public bodies across the EU to look to when introducing a new tender for printers, and “ETIRA expects that private businesses will follow suit”.
While the obligation for OEMs to implement a take-back system could have resulted in most cartridges being returned for recycling rather than reuse, van Dijk asserted that the criteria favours reuse over recycling: “The new rules clearly say that reuse of a cartridge has the preference over recycling – that is why the obligation may even present a great new business opportunity for ETIRA members, as they can become the preferred partner of an OEM to offer a take-back system.”
Van Dijk also noted that while OEMs are required to offer a take-back system, end-users are not obliged to make use of it and “remain free to choose any way of disposing the empty cartridge”.