When people speak about 'green' printing, they are primarily concerned with whether materials are printed on recycled paper or paper from managed and renewable forests. But that’s only part of what the industry can do to improve sustainability and reduce its environmental impact. Over the years, Xeikon has taken many steps to ensure that its products and their output have the smallest possible environmental footprint.
Printing is as much about paper as it is about what you put on it. Digital printing technology has radically changed the print production process. The possibility of being able to produce “on demand” in the exact required quantity saves material and prevents waste; and it is therefore both more efficient and more effective. At the same time, Xeikon has successfully focused on reducing the environmental impact of the entire graphic chain – starting with increasing the sustainability of the manufacturing process for its toner. This is due to the recognition that true sustainability requires an examination of the total life cycle of products and their end use, explains Dr. Lode Deprez, VP Technology Digital Solutions at Xeikon: “Printed paper must also be recyclable, the printing process must conserve water and use no VOCs, and the energy use and production of waste must be drastically reduced. Xeikon has met all of these requirements and more – both in its manufacturing processes and in the way its customers use the equipment in the field – to ensure that Xeikon and its customers are ahead of the curve in complying with environmental regulations.”
During the past ten years, the demand for Xeikon’s toner, which has always been fully produced in Heultje (Belgium), has tripled. Moreover, the range of toner offerings has also expanded enormously during this time; where about 10 types of toner and developer were initially manufactured, this has currently increased to more than 270. In addition, during the same decade considerable progress has been made in increasing the sustainability of toner production.