Canon Celebrates 20 Years of Toner Recycling

Date: February 23, 2010

Lake Success, NY -- According to a press released issued from Canon’s corporate website, 2010 will mark the 20th year since Canon introduced the “Canon Toner Recycling Program”. Under this program, the first of its kind in the industry back in 1990, “every component of the used cartridges that the company collects is reused, recycled or recovered.” The program is active in 23 different countries located around the globe. As of June 2009, Canon had collected roughly 220,000 metric tons of used toner cartridges.

The idea of a replaceable toner cartridge was first conceived and implemented by Canon in 1982. Building on that success, Canon adapted the design for use with laser printers. Canon’s overarching goal of benefitting the environment and led by their corporate philosophy of “kyosei—living and working for the common good” Canon independently became the first company to start such a program. The program then and now lays any cost onto the customer. The three original sites for the program were the United States, Germany, and Japan.

The product design enables Canon to ensure a closed loop on every toner cartridge that is produced. From 2003 until present day, Canon’s four global recycling centers have 100% recovery rate with no instances of landfill waste. Through June 2009, they have managed to reduce the use of new resources by 140,000 metric tons and CO2 emissions by roughly 370,000 metric tons.

BY ADAM HAIGH, Editor