Lexmark calls for ‘small steps’ to help businesses cut waste
Marlow - 07/01/2010
Almost a quarter of the UK recycles more at home than they do at work – and one in ten Londoners fail to recycle at all. That’s according to a report commissioned by Lexmark International (NYSE:LXK), the printing solutions provider, which investigated the UK’s recycling trends.
The study also found that 89 percent of UK households recycle paper and cardboard, compared to 71 percent of businesses. Fewer than half of organisations dispose of bottles in an environmentally responsible manner, while less than a quarter of UK offices recycle computer equipment.
Recycling trends were found to be higher in the home. Almost half of Britons said they recycle clothes, while over one third now have a compost heap. One in four recycle print cartridges and toner.
“It’s clear from this research that consumers are now making recycling part of their everyday lives,” said Steve Purdy, Lexmark UK country general manager. “People are willing to fulfil their environmental commitments and help reduce the amount of waste and landfill they produce. Their contribution may be minimal, but it only takes a few small steps by many to make a significant difference.”
Purdy believes this discrepancy could be ascribed to the ease of making small steps to go green in the home – while company initiatives are usually on a bigger scale. This can lead to projects like daily recycling being overlooked.
To this end, Lexmark recommends that small steps be taken in the office that could make a significant difference in reducing the carbon footprint of the workplace:
• Put designated bins in the office kitchen which will allow people to separate glass and plastic from the perishable rubbish
• Place paper recycling bins next to photocopiers and fax machines – this can save a significant amount of waste each year
• Take advantage of companies that offer collection services for computer hardware so the parts can be recycled or the device disposed of correctly
• Make use of programmes run by printer manufacturers like Lexmark whereby companies can return their used cartridges for recycling, free of charge
• Use two-sided and multi-up printing options to reduce the amount of paper used
• Make use of Print Preview to avoid printing errors
• Scan and distribute documents electronically instead of as paper copies
• Turn off computer hardware and printing devices at the end of the day
• Make sure that the lights in the office are turned off once the last person has left
“At Lexmark we have noticed some environmental trends affecting the printing industry,” added Purdy. “The number of inkjet cartridges returned to us for recycling by our users in the EMEA region has increased by 134% compared with 2007-2008. This is an encouraging sign that our environmental messages are really starting to strike a chord with our end users.”
“We have also seen green credentials become an important part of the bids and tenders process. Businesses, whether small or large, are now demanding that their suppliers are sustainable, but this has been a Lexmark practice for some time and it is an integral part of the way we do business. Lexmark can work with businesses to drive environmental waste and costs out of their offices, while helping them to streamline their document imaging workflow.”
ABOUT THE SURVEY
The survey was conducted between July 24 and July 30, 2009 by Ipsos MORI. In total, 1,000 respondents aged fifteen years old or older were questioned across the UK.
