Lexmark, the printing solutions and services provider, has developed an eco-simulator that helps business users better understand the environmental impact of their printing habits. The educational tool allows companies to move towards a more sustainable future and reduce their carbon footprint by improving printing systems and document workflow.
The eco-simulator automatically calculates the environmental impact of a user and translates it into global warming potential and non renewable resources depletion. It also puts the results into context by comparing the company's printing impact with other activities, such as driving a car or using crude oil.
To help managers and employees understand why it is important to print less, the eco-simulator tool starts with two simple questions:
1. How many pages do you print per day?
2. How do you use your Lexmark printer? (Double-sided printing, high-yield cartridges, etc.)
The eco-simulator then calculates users printing environmental impact based on a full Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) of a Lexmark laser printer[1]. The LCA examines every stage of its existence, from production to disposal.
Béatrice Marneffe, Director of Sustainable Affairs for Lexmark in EMEA explained:
"Sustainability has a lot to do with education and individual behaviour, but before changing their behaviours, printers users need to be aware of the impact of their current practices. Research conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Lexmark[2] showed that 90 per cent of European employees are worried about the environmental impact of their printing."
"Lexmark created the eco-simulator to address these issues, helping Lexmark to determine the best priorities in term of Environmental efforts, and helping businesses to print less and save more," she added. "Even though, as shown by the LCA, paper is relatively speaking the major impact, Lexmark long-term, company-wide commitment is spelled out in our Extended Producer Responsibility agreement. It requires that at every stage in a product's lifecycle we evaluate the core components of environmental stewardship, in terms of overall reduction of the ecological footprint and toxicity, i.e., consumption (resources such as water, energy...), emissions (Greenhouse gas, C0² emissions) and waste minimisation."
Some Lexmark customers can also include the eco-simulator in their internal communications, such as on employee desktops or on their company intranet.
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About LexmarkLexmark International provides businesses and consumers in more than 150 countries with a broad range of printing and imaging products, solutions and services that help them to be more productive. In 2007, Lexmark reported $5.0 billion in revenue. Learn how Lexmark can help you get more done at www.lexmark.com.
[1] The lifecycle assessment was performed in compliance with ISO 14040 and 14044 by Bio Intelligence Services, audited and certified by TNO.
The LCA has been calculated using a reference scenario for the multi-function X646dte printer.
professional European user
printing mode: one-sided, 1-up printing (1 page printed per sheet of paper)
Cartridges: Lexmark brand new high-yield cartridges with toner at maximum darkness level
Cartridge end-of-life: 8% reused, 25% recycled, 67% treated as municipal waste
Printer lifespan: Five years
[2] Research conducted by phone and on the internet from October 24 to November 17 2007 with wage-earners taken from representative samples from each of the following countries: France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal.
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© Press Release 2008
