Sustainable Times Issue 6

Positive PrintingHow Toshiba is improving the efficiency of the printing environment

Why it’s time to look again at window film

Where does your waste paper go?

Putting carbon offsets in their place

The best new green products

SUMMER 2011

APPEAL TO THE ECONOMIST AND THE

ECOLOGIST IN YOU

KYOCERA. COUNT ON US.

KYOCERA MITA UK Ltd – Phone: 08457 103 104 – www.kyoceramita.co.uk

More effi cient printing and copying can signifi cantly reduce the use of

energy, paper and consumables, delivering real cost savings as well as

helping you hit your emissions reduction targets.

Find out more on 08457 103 104.

When planning the Summer issue of Sustainable Times, an

article on window film (see page 14) seemed an obvious

choice. We felt sure that readers sweltering in sun-drenched,

south-facing offices would respond well to the message

that window film can create a cooler working environment,

while managers in modern offices would be attracted by its

potential to lower air conditioning bills. Well, this summer

hasn’t turned out quite as expected. In this topsy-turvy

year we should have run the window film story in balmy

March and the office heating feature in August. Let’s hope

our efforts haven’t been wasted and we have a really hot

autumn. In the meantime, you may be pleased to know that

manufacturers are now expanding their ranges to include

insulating window film. Perfect for an English summer.

James Goulding, Editor

03 Agenda Sustainability for

offices and office products

10 What’s New The best new green

products for your office

13 TelecommuncationsHow telecoms companies can act as green enablers for their customers

14 Window Film Window film can play an

important role in reducing energy consumption

15 Recycled Paper Tieing up loose ends with a closed loop paper recycling system

Editor James Goulding 07803 087228 [email protected]

Advertising Director Ethan White 01474 824711 [email protected]

Publishing Director Neil Trim 07803 087229 dd 01737 249408 [email protected]

Group Sales Manager Martin Hall 07824 552116 [email protected]

Sustainable Times is a supplement of Business Info Magazine. It is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 4 New Cottages, Green Farm Lane, Shorne, Kent DA12 3HQ. Tel: 01474 824711. Email: [email protected]

No part of Sustainable Times can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. © 2011 Kingswood Media Ltd.

Design: Sandtiger Media – www.sandtiger.co.uk

The paper used in this magazine is obtained from manufacturers who operate within internationally recognized standards. The paper is made from Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp, which is sourced from sustainable, properly managed forestation.

WINTER 2008/9

16 Cover Story What Toshiba is doing to reduce the impact of printing

19 ConsumablesWhy remanufactured toner cartridges may be greener

24 Recycled PadsTry out these fantastic recycled paper pads

27 Carbon Offsets

Steve Hewson explains where offsetting fits within an overall carbon management strategy

CONTENTS

greenAgenda

sustainabletimes 03

New 3M window film puts others in the shade

3M claims to have set new standards in heat control and visible light transmissions with its new 3M Prestige Exterior Window Films, enabling businesses to save money on air conditioning and lighting.

Based on unique nano technology, the sun control film has the market’s highest Visible Light Transmission (VLT) rate of 90%, which prevents the

darkening of windows and maintains a light interior. Yet it still provides 99.9% protection against harmful UV rays and blocks 77% of solar energy for a cooler working environment.

The exterior film also overcomes problems of the past, such as a reflection/mirror effect on the outside of windows and damage to double or triple glazing from thermal stress.

According to 3M, it is also the first non-metallised exterior applied film, which means that there is no problem with corrosion or interference with wireless or cellular signals inside the building and far less internal reflection.

Scott McLachlan, National Sales Executive for 3M Window Films, said: “Whatever the kind or size of building glazing, customers now have high performance clear or lightly-tinted window film options that combine all the benefits of heavily tinted or reflective film without the inherent drawbacks of darkened rooms or shiny windows.

“3M Prestige Exterior Window Films are almost as clear as glass, so the external appearance of the building is virtually unchanged and inside, reflection from internal lighting on the treated glass is significantly reduced.”www.3m.com

One planet MBA Conservation organisation the WWF and University of Exeter Business School have joined forces to develop the One Planet MBA programme. Starting in September 2011, it will be the world’s first MBA that embeds the need for a sustainable approach to strategic business management throughout

the programme, rather than limiting sustainability to a bolt-on module. Graduates of the one-year (or two-year part-time) course will be fully competent in the business skills upon which MBAs have traditionally been based but will also be able to demonstrate innovative approaches to the development of sustainable business strategies. www.oneplanetmba.org

Humanscale honoured for green designsHumanscale has won 2001 Green Good Design Awards for its Horizon LED Task Light and Personal Zone Air Purifier. The awards are organised by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The Thin Film LED Horizon task light consumes only nine watts of power and is rated for up to 50,000 hours of use, equal to 25 years in most single-shift work environments. Made from 28% recycled and 99% recyclable material, its design minimises the number of

components and simplifies disassembly. Humanscale’s Energy Star-certified

personal zone air purifier is 2.5 times more efficient than Energy Star requirements, produces no ozone and is the only air purifier to have recyclable filters. It silently filters out more than 99% of airborne contaminants of all sizes, including dust, smoke, bacteria, allergens, smog, viruses and even Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde creating a safe and comfortable personal environment.www.humanscale.com

Split image: on left, 3M Prestige 40 Exterior Window Film; on right, standard metalised sun control window film. Note the clear view through the 3M Prestige 40 film compared to the coloured/darkened view through the standard metalised sun control window film.

GREENinitiative

SUMMER 2011SustainableTIMES

3Mprestige exterior window films 3Mprestige exterior window films

award

mailto:[email protected]





04 sustainabletimes 0870 903 9500

greenAgenda

Sustainability strategies held in check In April, KPMG’s Climate Change and Sustainability practice released new research, Corporate Sustainability: A Progress Report, which revealed that over 30% of businesses still don’t have a strategy for sustainable growth in place. Just over 60% of the 378 companies surveyed said they currently had a working strategy for corporate sustainability, up from just over half polled in 2008. Of those that didn’t, 70% expect to have one within the next five years. Reasons given for the slow take-up of sustainability programs include a lack of common metrics and tools for measuring the impact of programs; competition for finance with operational programs that have a quicker ROI; and the lack of a rigorous international framework of regulation.

Four out of 10 businesses have no carbon reduction strategy

Toshiba extends Carbon Zero schemeToshiba TEC has extended the CarbonZero carbon offsetting scheme introduced for its printers and MFDs to other divisions, starting with Toshiba electronic point of sales (EpoS) systems and Auto ID printers.

As with its MFDs, Toshiba will neutralise all carbon emissions generated in the production and distribution of the products by buying carbon offsets from co2balance, which runs a variety of Gold Standard schemes including the supply of energy-efficient stoves to villagers in Kenya.

The African Energy Efficient Stove Project, now being extended to the Indian sub-continent, is co2balance’s most popular offsetting programme. The stoves consume 70% less firewood than traditional open fires, reducing the amount of carbon released when cooking and bringing numerous health and social benefits. www.toshibatec-eu.co.uk

Four out of 10 FTSE 100 businesses still have no clear targets to cut carbon emissions, despite rising energy prices and the Government’s ambition to set a legally binding target on greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020.

Analysis by the Carbon Trust (Raising the Bar) found that only 59% of the FTSE 100 have robust reduction targets in place at a time when consumers are starting to pay more attention to such considerations.

A recent consumer survey by the Carbon Trust found that the number of shoppers prepared to shun brands that fail to display carbon footprint labels on products has doubled in the last year from 22% to 45%.

When asked whether they would buy low carbon labelled goods over non-labelled goods of identical quality, the survey found that 47% are more likely to choose ‘low carbon’ labelled products.

One in five (21%) said they would pay more for carbon-labelled products.

In a separate initiative, the Carbon Trust Standard has launched a free guide to help growing businesses measure, manage and reduce carbon emissions and energy costs (The Growing Business’ Guide to Managing Carbon).

It estimates that UK SMEs could collectively save £400 million a year in energy costs and more than 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 by reducing their carbon footprints and certifying their efforts under the Carbon Trust Standard.

SMEs that have used the Carbon Trust Standard SME online certification tool have, on average, cut their energy costs by £2,000 per annum.

The Growing Business’ Guide to Managing Carbon can be downloaded for free at: www.carbontruststandard.com/GrowingBusinessGuide.www.carbontrustcertification.com

Pedal power wins awardPedal-powered deliveries in central London have earned Office Depot the Environment Product / Service Award at the annual Environment and Energy Awards, part of SustainabilityLive. The office products supplier introduced its Cargocycle initiative to cut carbon emissions from its UK vehicle fleet by as much as 80% in central London. www.officedepot.co.uk

New award for green champions A new environmental award has been set up to recognise the efforts of green champions within business.

The People and Environment Awards for Business (PEABs) reward the efforts of individuals or teams that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in implementing green business initiatives.

The organisers hope that by focusing on individuals rather than their employers, the PEABs will inspire more people to push forward green initiatives for their workplace.

The deadline for the inaugural PEABs is August 31, 2011.www.peabusinessawards.com

sustainabletimes 05www.binfo.co.uk

Europe’s greenest billboard erected in Hounslow

Samsung joins programme to make computers more efficientSamsung Electronics has joined the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI) as a board member alongside Cisco, Emerson, F5 Networks, Google, Intel, Juniper Networks, Microsoft and World Wildlife Fund.

CSCI is a global consortium committed to reducing energy consumption across all aspects of computing including PCs, servers, networking equipment and connected devices such as smartphones and tablets.

As CSCI members, computer and component manufacturers commit to producing products that meet specified power efficiency targets. Corporate participants commit to purchasing energy efficient computing products, making it easier and faster for organisations in every sector to meet sustainability goals

Last year, a study conducted by Natural Logic to assess the progress of CSCI since its launch in 2007 showed that CO2 emissions from IT equipment had decreased by 32-36 million metric tons worldwide, representing more than $2 billion in annual energy savings, through the use of computer power management and increased adoption of energy efficient computing equipment.www.climatesaverscomputing.org

greenAgenda…

Premier Paper Group is targeting designers with the new Evolution range of recycled papers for digital and litho printing. To raise awareness, it is sponsoring the Evolution Green Design Award for creative work printed on recycled paper as a new category in the graphic design industry’s long-running Fresh Awards. The winner is due to be announced on September 29. [email protected]

Out with the old, in with the newMUIR Group Housing Association has invested £55,000 in thin client technology for its six regional offices in Helsby, Chester, Winsford, Blackpool, Huntingdon and Burnley. The tiny, monitor-mounted thin clients will replace large PC workstations, saving space and energy. Each thin client uses just 7 watts of power compared to 240 watts for a PC, with all processing undertaken by servers located in the Muir data centre. As well as being more energy-efficient, the thin clients are more reliable because there are no moving parts and quick to start. www.toshibatec-eu.co.uk

Half of all short-haul business flights unnecessary, claims Polycom

Much is made of the potential of conferencing and collaboration technologies to reduce carbon emissions. Yet, according to a new study by Polycom, business travel continues to grow even as collaboration technologies proliferate and become easier to use.

The videoconferencing specialist surveyed 400 executives of European organisations with more than 1,000 employees and found that in 2010 European business executives, on average, spent the equivalent of 13 days on short-haul flights, with an average journey time of six hours including delays and travel to and from the airport.

One quarter of respondents said they expected to increase the amount of business travel undertaken in 2011.

Half (51%) of all short-haul domestic flights were made to attend ‘regular’ meetings, which according to Polycom, could just as well be conducted by video, saving time, money and inconvenience.

Overall, about one third of respondents said that many of the meetings they attend could be undertaken by video conference and nearly half (45%) said that their business could save a lot of money by video conferencing.

Yet, four out of 10 companies have still not invested in videoconferencing technology.www.polycom.co.uk/travel

Ricoh has brought its sustainable billboard concept to Hounslow on the outskirts of London with the erection of a wind and solar-powered eco-board on the M4 between London and Heathrow airport. The board advertising Ricoh Managed Document Services is powered exclusively by 96 solar panels and five wind turbines and only lights up when sufficient energy has been generated by these sources. Last year, Ricoh installed a solar-powered billboard in Times Square, New York. www.ricoh.co.uk/eco-board

Half of all short-haul travel is unnecessary thanks to videoconferencing technology like Polycom’s Telepresence m100

The Samsung Series 9 notebook

GREENinitiative


Ricoh eco-board

award


HP and ArjoWiggins collaborate on de-inking process

greenAgenda

Light Tape – a green alternative to neon Light Tape UK Ltd is promoting its technology as an energy efficient alternative to neon and LEDs for display lighting that has the added benefits of reduced light and environmental pollution.

Made up of a DuPont metal ribbon coated in GTP-Sylvania phosphor and encapsulated in a Honeywell laminate, Light Tape is claimed to use less than one tenth of the power of neon and cold cathode lighting and one quarter of the power used by LEDs.

Light Tape claims that generating the electricity used to run 100m of Neon for a year produces over half a Ton of CO2,

whereas the electricity used to run the equivalent length of Light Tape would produce less than 20Kgs of CO2.

Light Tape is also more flexible; easier to maintain and install (it is no thicker than a business card); produces no waste heat or infrared light; contains no gas, glass, mercury or heavy metals; and is fully recyclable. 0845 617 0697 www.lighttape.co.uk

Sustainability standard first to address concerns of SMEsA new sustainability standard has been developed by The Organisation for Responsible Business (ORB) especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

The Responsible Business Standard covers a broad range of attributes and can be run alongside or used as a stepping stone to achieve other forms of certification, such as ISO. It has progressive levels of attainment (bronze, silver and gold) and entry costs including professional auditing of less than £500.

Jill Poet, Managing Director of The Organisation for Responsible Businesses (ORB), said that the auditable standard would enable businesses to demonstrate their commitment to more sustainable business practices, helping them to win contracts in the public and private sectors.

“Many UK SMEs are already working hard towards best practice but don’t have anything tangible to demonstrate that. We developed The Responsible Business Standard because there wasn’t anything that is affordable, realistic and of value for the majority of SMEs for whom ISO accreditation can often involve too much time and too much money. It can also be daunting for SMEs to go down the ISO route and yet the lack of appropriate certification has often meant businesses have been unable to obtain valuable contracts,” she said.

“Historically, central and local government have always asked for ISO9001, but they are now accepting that it isn’t always necessary or appropriate. They do nonetheless require some sort of validation and The Responsible Business Standard will evidence what a business is doing and fill the breach to meet public and private sector requirements.”www.responsiblebusinessstandard.org.uk or telephone 0845 4599749

Staples goes electric Office products supplier Staples has been working successfully with delivery firm TNT to shrink its carbon footprint. As well as reducing miles per delivery from 6.1 to 2.57, the use of TNT’s electric fleet has enabled Staples to take 70 diesel vans off the road. As part of its agreement with TNT, Staples has exclusive use of this super-quiet7.5 tonne electric vehicle. Using the latest battery technology, it can travel 80 kilometres on a single charge.

Microsoft buys recycledMicrosoft is switching to 100% post-consumer recycled paper at all its US operations, including its Redmond heaquarters. The software giant claims that the change from 30% to 100% recycled paper will save the equivalent of 750 million pounds of CO2 annually and preserve 8,000 trees.

EFI joins VerdigrisEFI, a specialist in digital print products, solutions and workflows, has joined the Verdigris project as an associate member. Launched in 2008, Verdigris aims to help printers and their customers develop a better understanding of the environmental impact of print media.

IN BRIEF

A Light Tape display on the entrance of Foster Court, University College London. The display features the words Foster Court in Morse code, with all dots and dashes being made from the ‘cut-out shapes’ form of Light Tape.

ArjoWiggins Graphic and HP have announced a joint research project to improve the de-inking of materials printed on HP Indigo and HP inkjet digital presses.

The two companies have agreed to test new techniques for de-inking paper printed on HP Indigo Liquid Electrophotographic (LEP) and inkjet digital print jobs so that they can be recycled rather than sent to landfill.

Today, the amount of LEP and inkjet materials found in the recycling process is small relative to analogue prints such as offset lithography, but volumes will rise in the future as digital printing technologies take a greater share of the production print market.

The two companies plan to test new de-inking techniques on an industrial scale at ArjoWiggins Graphic’s de-inking plant at Greenfield in France.

HP is aiming to improve de-inking of material printed on its inkjet presses

When it comes tosaving energy, Olivetti’s d�Color MFRange is a breath offresh air!

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Olivetti’s range of A3 d-Color MF machines undergo stringent environmental tests and have been provento use between 50% to 70% less energy than the highly prized Energy Star standard.

In fact, the Olivetti d-Color MF651 uses just 50% of the energy that some of its competitors do, forprinting the same weekly volume! This translates to significant energy savings per machine over theinstall period.

In addition, the carbon reduction, due to this reduced energy use, is equivalent to the annual amountabsorbed by 67 trees*.

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LED-ing the way Casio’s latest XJ line-up of DLP projectors represent the most versatile, lamp-free and eco-friendly data projectors to date, according to Frank Romeo, Vice President of Casio’s Business Projector Division. The new projectors include a comprehensive set of features that will deliver tailored solutions aimed to increase efficiency and streamline costs for the education, business, pro AV and digital signage sectors. www.casio-projectors.eu/uk

What’s New… Hybrid mail service Pitney Bowes’ new hybrid mail service is aimed at driving unnecessary spend and inefficiency from everyday, office-generated communications.

Targeted at enterprises, not-for-profit organisations and the public sector, the service can dramatically drive down the high cost of office printing, consumables and stationery, as well as reduce paper wastage and carbon footprint for office-generated mail. www.pbms.co.uk

Eco-innovationThe latest addition to NEC Display Solutions Europe’s Office Cool range is the MultiSync EX231Wp, which they say delivers trusted performance and quality, with new standards of minimalism and eco-innovation.

The 23-inch-wide PVA TFT LED Backlit display uses unique PVA panel technology to remain ultra-slim and light, while delivering outstanding picture quality with wide viewing angles.

In keeping with NEC’s Green Vision, the MultiSync EX Series delivers a reduced amount of waste and harmful substances, materials and packaging; and less energy is required for transportation. Innovations such as the human sensor which reduces power by up to 94 per cent when it detects no user activity in front of the monitor, ambient light and auto-brightness sensors and ECO mode reduce the already low power consumption. The EX231Wp draws just 27W when in use, reduced to 15W in ECO mode. www.nec-display-solutions.com

0870 903 9500

Recycled phone The ECO Maya is an ideal cordless DECT phone for eco-conscious consumers. Made out of 100% recycled plastics, it is claimed to use as much as 60% less energy than a standard telephone.

The phone is BFR and mercury-free and features PVC-free telephone and power cables, a halogen-free PCB, an arsenic-free LCD and a non-toxic, smelt-free rubber keypad.

Phone features include an intercom function, built-in alarm clock and a 50-name phone book that displays the caller’s name.The ECO Maya is available from M&S and costs £29.99.

Uses less power than a laserIf energy efficiency is your top priority, you’ll love Epson’s new WorkForce Pro range of all-in-ones for businesses and home workers. Designed to provide a sustainable and affordable alternative to laser devices, these cool and quiet inkjet MFPs need up to 80% less power to print than laser devices. According to Epson, running costs are up to 50% lower too.www.epson.co.uk

Plug and forgetCut energy consumption of photocopiers, printers, computers and vending machines with Energy Reducing Products’ money-saving range of ELIMINATA plugs. The plugs use smart technology to turn machines off when they are not in use and back on when they are needed. And because they work automatically, you can plug and forget. www.eliminata.com

GREENinitiative


ECO Mayacordless DECT phoneECO Mayacordless DECT phone

award


Evolution Recycled Premier Paper Group has launched

its new Evolution range of recycled paper to graphic

designers.Evolution’s 240 product

items include satin, silk, gloss and uncoated media, in a variety of weights and with recycled content varying from 25 per cent to

100 per cent. The range has a number of qualities that have

been developed to give optimum performance on the various digital

print processes including Indigo and dry toner. www.paper.co.uk

Go green, GoECOlife Swordfish has launched a new range of shredders called GoECOlife, with the goal of delivering environmentally-friendly products that do not sacrifice design, functionality or performance.

With Carbon Neutral status, GoECOlife home and office shredders are designed for individuals and companies striving to reduce their carbon footprint. GoECOlife follows Carbonfund.org’s ‘Reduce what you can, offset what you can’t’ philosophy by combining sensible energy reductions with cost-effective carbon offsets to eliminate the overall carbon footprint. www.goecolife.co.uk

New look Basildon BondTo celebrate 100 years of Basildon Bond the iconic brand has a fresh new look. The most trusted name in personal stationery is available in White, Blue, Champagne, Airmail and Recycled options with matching envelopes.

Teaming the classic block and script with eye-catching images and bright colours, the new look Basildon Bond range brings a splash of colour to letter writing.www.basildonbond.com

Bio-degradable envelopesPostsafe, suppliers of Peel and Seal polythene envelopes, have a range of padded and unpadded biodegradable envelopes which are 100 per cent recyclable. Manufactured from Oxi Bio-degradable polythene, these environmentally-friendly, 100 per cent bio-degradable and recyclable products are available in eleven sizes including DX legal. www.postsafe.co.uk

What’s New…

Forever filingExaClair Limited’s Forever filing products are made with 100 per cent recycled material and are themselves 100 per cent recyclable. The latest additions to the range include the Forever Elasticated 3 Flap Folders which come in two-colour 380gsm board and feature elastic straps to keep contents secure; and the Forever Window Folder, manufactured from 120gsm recycled pressboard with transparent window.

All Forever products are Blue Angel certified. They also all incorporate the ‘Mobius Loop’ logo to encourage users to recycle. www.exaclair.co.uk

GREENinitiative


Swordfish GoECOlifeSwordfish GoECOlife

award


Comms savings can be good for the environment

As an ISDN30e and ISDN2e replacement, Spitfire’s SIP Trunks typically offer business quality secure telephony at up to 50 per cent less than the monthly rental cost of an equivalent ISDN service. As one of the few business ISPs and fixed line operators to offer a SIP trunk service, Spitfire offers a complete end-to-end SIP service via its own IP and TDM infrastructure.

To meet the needs of business customers, Spitfire provides a range of broadband services and connectivity options including ADSL, SDSL, VDSL2 and Ethernet over copper and fibre. Ethernet is the ‘gold standard’ for broadband connectivity and Spitfire now offers a single dedicated Ethernet service for all Internet and Voice over

The way business telecoms are provided is undergoing a dramatic change. But it is a change for the good that can save business users money while at the same time promoting environmentally friendly working. SIP trunks now provide an alternative to using conventional analogue or digital (ISDN) lines to connect a private phone system to the public telephone network for voice communications. Instead an IP phone system can use a ‘SIP Trunk’ enabled broadband circuit.

IP requirements at a sub-£500 per month price point. Spitfire’s new package includes 30 SIP Trunks, 200 DDI numbers and 10mb Ethernet circuit. The 10Mmb Ethernet circuit provides resilient Internet access, ideal for businesses that require guaranteed throughput bandwidth with SLAs that support voice, video and mission critical data applications. This economic pricing could save customers as much as 50 per cent when compared to alternatives such as ISDN30e and leased line costs.

Businesses that make the switch to Spitfire’s Converged Voice and Data Ethernet and SIP Trunk package will enjoy much lower call costs and a dedicated broadband connection that is designed to carry a customer’s voice and data. Using one network for voice and data saves duplication, which is better for the environment and cuts costs. As a specialist in providing business network solutions Spitfire’s SIP Trunk service also includes market leading service level agreements and built in disaster recovery.

When switching to Spitfire SIP Trunks it is possible to port existing phone numbers from BT and many other operators, so that businesses can continue to use existing numbers. Spitfire can also provide telephone numbers from geographic areas all over the UK and route them to a SIP service, enabling businesses to set up virtual office numbers anywhere in the country. This frees businesses from the need to establish conventional office premises with associated travel costs

and environmental impact.Spitfire also offers a hosted

telephony service with phone system functionality provided remotely. Called SIP Communicator™, it only requires SIP compatible handsets, making the service an extremely cost-effective solution for business start-ups and small businesses that are growing and anticipate moving premises or are spread over multiple sites.

SIP Communicator™ offers all the usual phone system features of holding and transferring calls, and has a number of additional benefits. The system can be configured via the Internet, allowing change of feature set-ups as when required, without incurring any engineering charges. SIP Communicator™ also provides voice mail, auto-attendant and conference call functionality.

Designed as an end-to-end service, SIP Communicator™ is ideal for multi-site operations such as retail branch networks or small businesses employing home workers. Where a business has home workers or workers in many different locations, then SIP Communicator™ provides real business and economic benefits because staff can call each other free of charge and incoming calls can be routed to any location. By promoting flexible working patterns hosted telephony cuts premises and travelling costs and benefits the environment.

For more information on Spitfire’s telecommunications services call 020 7501 3333, or visit www.spitfire.co.uk

advertorial


The most recent European sustainable telecoms sector benchmark conducted by independent analyst firm Verdantix – The Green Quadrant Sustainable Telecoms Europe 2011 report – provides a detailed, fact-based comparison of ten sustainable telecoms solutions provided by 18 of the largest telecoms operators in the European market.

The study assesses Europe’s largest telecoms operators across 50 criteria including a detailed assessment of network energy efficiency, carbon reduction strategies and sustainability reporting. It also includes insights from interviews with a panel of 15 senior IT and telecoms buyers with combined revenues of over €175 billion. Firms included in the study are AT&T, Belgacom, BT, Cable&Wireless, Colt, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, KPN, SFR, Swisscom, Telecom Austria, Telekom Italia, Telecom Portugal, Telefonica, Telenor, TeliaSonera, Verizon and Vodafone.

Key findingsThe analysis found that AT&T, BT, Orange (France Télécom), Swisscom and Telefónica will improve their ability to win contracts for telepresence, cloud computing, smart meters and web hosting because they differentiate their services with superior energy and environmental performance.

The report stated that these five telcos lead the European market for sustainable telecoms because of their integrated commercial strategies to apply sustainability right across their products and services, coupled with in-depth organisational commitment to sustainability, resulting in class leading corporate sustainability performance.

Competitive disadvantageVerdantix Director David Metcalfe says that the study found that telecoms operators who can’t communicate their own energy, environment and sustainability performance are now at a competitive disadvantage.

“This is particularly true when bidding for public sector telecoms contracts. Bid teams now need training on how to respond to customers’ sustainability questions. An ability to communicate the PUE of data centres or the potential for air travel cost savings from the deployment of telepresence suites differentiates core telecoms services. Among the 18 telcos we looked at, Orange has invested ahead of the curve to create sustainability differentiators for its customers across a broad portfolio. BT stands out for its corporate sustainability performance.”

Buyer’s marketAccording to the report, buyers focus on the sustainability benefits delivered by video conferencing, telepresence, collaboration platforms and data centre-related services including cloud computing. Interviews with 15 telecoms buyers representing multinational firms with average revenues of €12 billion uncovered a growing trend to include energy and environment benefits in the assessment of overall business benefits from telecoms services. These powerful buying constituencies use energy and environmental performance questions as part of supplier pre-qualification. Two global banks told Verdantix they require telcos to have ISO14001 certification as a pre-condition for spending money with them.

In the European telecoms market, AT&T, BT, Orange, Swisscom and Telefonica lead their peer group on energy, environment and social metrics. These telecoms providers boast the broadest portfolio of services that target sustainability growth markets like electricity and gas smart metering.

They have also invested more than their competitors to measure and communicate energy and CO2 benefits delivered to their customers. For example, Swisscom’s Green-ICT-check tool enables customers to assess energy and CO2 savings across all services in a consistent way, while AT&T, BT, Orange and Telefonica have appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer who reports at Board level and garners investment for the programme.

Market opportunity“There is a big market opportunity for the telecoms sector to act as a sustainability ‘enabler’ helping customers to reduce their energy consumption, fuel costs and CO2 emissions,” says Phil Sayer, Principal Analyst at Verdantix. “But customers still need more education to understand how to define sustainability benefits in financial terms. Right now there is a gaping disconnect between the ambitions of the telcos and the quality of their eco-marketing. Europe’s

telcos need to work much harder to articulate how sustainability

performance adds value to core telecoms services.”

www.verdantix.com

Operators who can’t communicate their own energy, environment and sustainability performance are now at a competitive disadvantage.

“

Sustainable telecomsTelecoms services including video conferencing, online collaboration and cloud computing play an important role in delivering sustainability programme targets such as energy cost reduction, travel substitution and fuel efficiency.


Summer blockbuster

Mention window film to people of a certain age – especially those who have lived overseas – and they might well decry the poor adhesive quality, discoloration, overly dark interiors, a counter-productive build-up of heat and potentially even damage to windows and frames.

Peter Staelens, EMEA regional manager of window film manufacturer Solar Gard concedes that there may have been problems in the past, but points out that the quality of today’s products and the expertise of Solar Gard’s network of specialist installers have transformed people’s experiences of window film.

“Quality has improved from the days when you had reflections and discolouration. Discolouration is less and less of a problem but everything changes when exposed to the sun. We give warranties of up to 16 years for some products. Most products will outlive the window because facades are re-done and buildings change function,” he said.

Which is just as well, because today there are many more reasons for installing window film. Greater awareness of skin cancer, rising energy prices, the threat of terrorism and the need to reduce carbon emissions all help make the case for film.

Tangible benefitsAccording to Staelens, there are three main areas where window film can provide tangible benefits:1. Safety; Solar Gard’s range includes

highly elastic safety film that when applied to the inside of a window will keep broken glass in place even in the event of a bomb explosion. This is of benefit not only to obvious terrorist targets, but any organisation that has a duty of care. “Even away from a bomb blast, there are schools and public buildings with glass, where there’s the risk of broken glass and the need to protect people,” Staelens said.

2. UV Protection: Window film stops ultra-violet light from entering a building, especially UVA, which, unlike UVB, isn’t stopped by glass. “This,” explained Staelens,

Why window film is a big hit with businesses during the summer months

“is important in homes, offices, museums and retail shops because UV is 40-50% of what causes fading and changes in colour. We stop that and a big proportion of infra-red, which is reduced by 50%.”

3. Energy: Films can lower solar gain in buildings, thus reducing the need for cooling in offices that have air conditioning and creating a more comfortable working environment in ones that don’t. “You can save 30% on cooling,” said Staelens. “If you look at the energy consumption of buildings, you could save up to 5% of total energy consumption.”

Film vs GlazingNew types of glass provide some of these benefits. So is there an advantage in using film rather than glazing, either in a new build or as a retro-fit?

“Glazing can solve a lot but it can’t solve everything,” explained Staelens. “Glass with shades or film could be the most cost-efficient solution. The level of protection film can offer can’t be matched by glazing: it’s about cost-efficiency – pounds and dollars – and the environmental costs.”

He estimates that a square metre film installation costs £40-£90 and that the financial payback in reduced energy costs could be as little as four to five years. The environmental payback, Staelens suggests, could be even sooner.

“We have developed tools to help decision-makers assess the investment, including a new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). In purely environmental terms, payback – the energy saved versus the energy used to make and distribute the product – is about one year, at which point the film

becomes carbon neutral.“It costs 1 kilo of CO2 to make

a square metre of window film but 2-3 kilos of CO2 to make a window, so it’s better to put film on than buy new windows. And window film is simple. You can install it without any disruption, but if you want to put new windows in you may have to close your office or restaurant,” he said.

The next time employees or customers complain about the heat, forget your prejudices and pick up the phone to the nearest window film provider. Doing so could bring more benefits than you think. www.solargard.co.uk

Touchdown PR, which represents Solar Gard in the UK, applied Sterling 40 Solar Film to the windows of its Farnham offices when employees complained of headaches and dizziness caused by glare from their Mac monitors. As well as solving this problem, the retro-fit has created a more comfortable working environment, especially in the summer months.

Frasers Menswear retro-fitted a clear, UV-blocking film to its shop windows to prevent clothing used in window displays from fading and to create a cooler shop interior for customers. The film also satisfied Frasers’ insurers which had been urging the retailer to replace its two large window panes with laminated glass.

Quality has improved from the days when you had reflections and discolouration.

“


The UK Confederation of Paper Industries and the European Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) both recently published annual reports on paper recycling.

In the UK, eight million tonnes of waste paper and board (not just office paper) was collected for recycling in 2010. This was 150,000 tonnes fewer than in 2009, which, combined with a 1.2% increase in paper and board consumption, meant that the UK recycling rate declined slightly from 67% to 65% (source: CPI).

Due to a lack of capacity in the UK paper recycling industry – domestic use of recovered paper fell by 1.5% in 2010 – most (54%) of the waste collected in the UK is sent overseas for recycling.

Some goes to Europe, but more than three quarters (77%) is sent to the Far East, especially China which takes 61% of exported waste paper and board or almost one third of all the waste paper and board collected in the UK.

This sounds a lot but rising demand for recovered paper in Europe, which took 22% of the UK’s waste in 2010 compared to 14% in 2009, meant that the proportion being sent to the Far East was 8% lower than in 2009.

All this underlines that waste is a global business – as is the manufacture of recycled paper.

Following m-real’s decision a few years ago to move the production of market leading Evolve recycled paper to Alizay in France, there are no recycled office papers made in the UK. (Evolve and the Alizay mill are now up for sale and could disappear/be closed if m-real doesn’t find a buyer of the brands and/or mill by the end of September.)

Closed loopEvolve caught the imagination of paper buyers when it was launched because it was made in the UK from UK waste. This closed loop concept is still used as a marketing tool by a number of suppliers even if the paper is now made abroad.

Today, Banner Business Services and Robert Horne offer closed loop systems combining waste paper collection,

recycling and paper sales in a single service.

Banner Business Services, part of the office2office contract stationery group, has been offering a closed loop recycling service since February 2010 when it took delivery of 16,000 boxes of copier paper made from waste paper collected from public sector organisations including HM Customs and Excise.

One of the strengths of Banner’s offering – essential considering its customer base – is the option of document shredding at a secure shredding facility or on the customer’s premises using one of sister company Banner Document Services’ mobile shredding units.

To meet customers’ concerns about data security, Robert Horne has now added document shredding to its yoyo service in a three-year partnership with The Shredding Alliance (TSA), a network of independent document shredding and recycling companies. Under the terms of the agreement, TSA will provide a collection service from customers’ premises, secure destruction of confidential waste paper either via on-site or off-site shredding and a guarantee that yoyo sourced paper is returned to the fibre bank for recycling into yoyo paper.

Critics of closed loop recycling schemes question how it is possible to trace waste through recycling, pulping and re-manufacture and argue that closed loop is just a marketing ploy – albeit a compelling one. But if it prevents waste going to landfill and encourages people to buy 100% recycled paper at a time of stagnant demand, does that matter?

In the UK, eight million tonnes of waste paper and board was collected for recycling in 2010.

“

Looping the loopRecycling bins are a part of the furniture in modern offices. But what happens to the paper that is collected in them?

Robert Horne has added secure shredding by The Shredding Alliance to its yoyo service

The greenest of them allThere are a number of tools available to help businesses find the most sustainable brands. One of the best is a new online database set up by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in co-operation with paper manufacturers.

Check Your Paper ranks papers according to the source of the fibre used, recycled content, CO2 emissions, waste to landfill and water pollution. At launch, there were 100 papers with Good or Excellent scores in all the main categories, including coated and uncoated papers, newsprint, tissue, packaging and board papers and specialty papers.

Premier Paper marketing director Dave Jones is a fan of the site but points out that the selection is limited and does not include every instance of a particular paper. For example, Premier’s new Evolution paper (not listed) is the same paper as the Number 1-ranked Lenza product.

Jones says that the best place to get advice is from your normal supplier. “If the merchant or supplier is any good, it will have that information available and be able to tell you about CO2 emissions, energy consumed and things like that. Such information is included in the Paper Profile, a standardised format supported by almost all manufacturers,” he said.http://checkyourpaper.panda.org


cover story

The adoption of green initiatives by businesses is driven by a combination of strategic factors including brand enhancement, regulatory compliance, or even a desire simply to do the right thing. Organisations choosing a Toshiba e-STUDIO multifunctional

product (MFP) can print, copy, fax and scan in confidence. Toshiba offers the complete package – fantastic products, competitive pricing, outstanding support and no detrimental effect on the environment.

Carbon Zero SchemeThanks to a partnership with carbon offsetting experts, co2balance, the carbon footprint of any Toshiba e-STUDIO MFP plus the first million pages is offset by Toshiba. The scheme covers all associated emissions including procurement, manufacturing, logistics, power, paper, servicing, spares and consumables for the machine and the first one million prints.

Human activities are causing the global climate to get significantly warmer – making finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions vital. This is where carbon offsetting can help. Carbon offsetting allows for the investment in projects that save the emission of, or absorb, an equivalent amount of CO2 to that of an MFP’s footprint plus the first million pages. Through this process the emissions are balanced to become carbon zero, which allows for positive printing and copying, with no negative effect on the environment. As Marketing Manager Jeremy Spencer says: “You can’t do without a copy and print capability in your business – so you may as well feel good about it.”

Toshiba is supporting a number of projects in the UK and developing world to help offset this carbon including the African Energy Efficient Stove Project which supplies energy efficient cooking stoves to villages in Kenya. The stoves result in a 50-70 per cent reduction in the need for firewood, saving carbon as well as providing a more cost and time effective method of cooking. Each stove prevents 15 tonnes of carbon over five years and generates many additional social, health and community benefits.

While there is no agreed international standard for measuring the carbon footprint of an MFP, the Toshiba methodology works because the data calculations used are based on independent analysis which is in turn independently audited by internationally accredited organisations. So the offset is total.

Since the scheme started Toshiba and its dealers have helped to reduce carbon by 23,282 tonnes and, in the process, have helped more than 1,000 families in Africa.

Human activities are causing the global climate to get significantly warmer – making finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions vital.

“

The power of positive printingRising energy costs, environmental concerns and Government directives have led to an increased demand for sustainable business IT operations. Toshiba TEC is no stranger to efforts designed to increase the overall efficiency of printing environments – from cutting costs, to meeting shrinking budgets, to consuming fewer resources.

n Save the planet – take positive action to reduce the impact of your carbon footprint and help tackle climate change

n Staff engagement – positive environmental action can generate real interest amongst staff, aiding recruitment and retention

n Meet customer expectations – a significant rise in demand for suppliers that take steps to reduce their impact on the environment

n Marketing benefits – going carbon zero provides your company with an edge in a competitive market

n Business policies – help to fulfil your environmental strategies

Carbon Zero: Key Benefits


Extensive feedback from technicians worldwide has resulted in significant changes to the engineering of the new products – the benefits of which include crystal clear images, improved reliability and higher productivity.

This brand new range delivers print and copy speeds from 20 to 65 pages per minute and boasts the very latest technology, including a completely new operating system from VxWorks to Linux, ensuring the new products are future proofed for the software of tomorrow.

Energy consumption is reduced by 400 per cent from 22W to 5W in sleep mode. This delivers additional cost savings on typical running costs – around 20 per cent – as well as reduced carbon footprint. Plus the balance of the carbon produced and one million pages is offset by Toshiba’s Carbon Zero scheme.

NEW e-STUDIO4540c and e-STUDIO6550c seriesToshiba’s eight new colour systems – the e-STUDIO4540c series and the e-STUDIO6550c series – are extremely productive, high quality devices that have been designed for modern, digital networked document workflows.

n Universal driver – a single driver installation for Toshiba MPS environments

n Customisable user settings – properties allow the administrator to control functionality per user

n Multiple overlays – the end of pre-printed stationery, up to six templates can be used in any one document

n Templates – users’ driver profiles appear in the templates tab and are customisable

n Tandem Print – split a job between two Toshiba systems – print speeds can be increased up to 170ppm

n My Menu Screen – individual user profiles in the menu screen

n e-FILING thumbnails – helps to identify the correct document before printing

n Print around – allows jobs to print ahead of ones that have stalled due to running out of staples or a certain paper size for example

n USB direct scan/print – save scanned data into the USB flash drive, no need to print from the PC

n Security – IEEE2600.2-.4 (ISO standard for hard copy devices) delivered out of the box IEEE2600.1 (ISO standard ‘Top Secret’) compliant when the data overwrite key is installed

Improved User Experience

www.toshiba.co.uk/imaging


COPY RIGHT

100% recycled, high quality office papers,available from the

For further information or samples please email [email protected]

Recycled Copier fp ad 3-11 30/03/2011 11:58 Page 1


Toner unit sales dropped by 11.7 per cent year on year in 2009, while OEM sales were down by 20.6 per cent. Ink dropped 6.8 per cent with OEM sales down by 16.7 per cent in the same period. IDC predict that the ink market is expected to develop at a CAGR of 1.4 per cent to 2014 while the toner market is expected to grow at 3.4 per cent. And whilst OEMs are expected to regain some market share, those compatible vendors that managed to establish a strong presence in the crisis years will continue to perform well.

All changeThe printer consumables market is one that has undergone dramatic changes over the last couple of years. Consumers now have much more choice and long gone are concerns about counterfeit compatible products, poor quality and low print yields. The UKCRA (UK Cartridge Remanufacturers Association) estimates that the number of recycled cartridges sold each year now exceeds 1.5 billion.

A compatible cartridge, either new or recycled/remanufactured, is one that is not produced by the original manufacturer, but is still developed specifically to suit the product for which it is designed. Toner cartridges for laser printers, photocopiers and plain paper fax machines can’t be refilled. However, most types of toner cartridge can be remanufactured. The cartridges are sent

to a factory where they are completely dismantled and cleaned, any worn parts are replaced and then they are refilled with fresh toner. Refilling inkjet cartridges is more straightforward and can even be done on a DIY basis. There are a number of companies such as Kleen Strike UK, a member and General Secretary of UKCRA, who offer an inkjet refilling service to a guaranteed quality standard, or www.inkfactory.com and www.cartridgepeople.com who supply the ink and refilling equipment.

Eco-nomical alternativesArmor Office Printing (www.armor-print.com), a leading manufacturer of compatible consumables for inkjet, laser, fax and dot matrix printers, has the capacity to produce more than 24,000,000 inkjet cartridges and 1,500,000 laser cartridges a year.

All ARMOR remanufactured cartridges are made from

empty cartridges that have been collected with

as much as 70 to 90 per cent of the components being re-used. According to Etira (European Toner & Inkjet Remanufacturers Association), this process results in 60 per cent less CO2 and 16,000 tonnes less waste compared to the amount of CO2 generated by the production of original laser cartridges and saves more than 30 per cent of the energy used to produce original supplies.

End-of-life laser cartridges are sent to a specialist industrial partner and to ensure that 100 per cent of the cartridge has been recycled, the recycling company delivers a materials report back to ARMOR, in which the input weight of the cartridges to be treated must be equal to its output weight after dismantling.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Katun Corporation (www.katun.com) supplies OEM-compatible imaging supplies and other select products and services for the office equipment industry.

ISO 9001 certified Jettec (www.jettec.com) is one of Europe’s best-known compatible inkjet cartridge manufacturers. The specialist ink used in their printer cartridges is carefully formulated to match the performance of each printer type. Each month the firm recycles 500,000 ink cartridges and in its manufacturing facility in Boston, Lincolnshire produces over two million compatible inkjet cartridges, 700,000 remanufactured inkjet cartridges and 100,000 laser toner cartridges. Sister company, The Recycling Factory (www.therecyclingfactory.com) works with charities, businesses, schools, clubs, societies and individuals, helping them to recycle and at the same time earn money. To date they have raised over £1.5 million for charity.

Refilling inkjet cartridges is more straight-forward and can even be done on a DIY basis.

“

Going green can save £s

n Over 45 million cartridges go into UK landfill sites each year

n It is estimated only 15 per cent are recycled or re-used

n By 2012, 500 million laser cartridges and 1.8 billion ink cartridges will be dumped in landfills worldwide

n Each cartridge thrown into landfill can take up to 1,000 years to decompose

n In just 12 months, cartridge recycling could save 15 million litres of oil in the UK

Key facts

Industry analysts IDC say that as a result of the recession, most OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) reported significant drops in sales of original consumables, with toner sales suffering the most. Compatibles, on the other hand, thrived in the worsening economic climate, with all EMEA markets reporting significant increases in sales.


OKI Delivering Optimum Printing Value for SMEs

The majority of SMEs claim to have control over all their expenditure. Most know how much they spend on staff, business rent and rates and phone and electricity bills. Very few, however, have a precise understanding of what is incurred on printing. In fact, for many SMEs, print is their largest unknown cost. And with budgets tight and economic conditions still challenging, this is a serious issue.

OKI can address it, however, by offering SMEs an approach based around managed print services (MPS). Typically, this will consist of a portfolio of programmes which together help to reduce print-related costs and the environmental impact of printing

OKI is a global business-to-business brand dedicated to creating cost effective, professional in-house printing solutions. The company’s portfolio of award winning products, solutions and total managed print services assist organisations of all sizes and budgets. One of its key target sectors, however, consists of busy SMEs. These organisations, drawn from the full spectrum of industry sectors, typically have a continuous, intensive need for high-quality but cost-effective printing solutions.

for all kinds of organisations including SMEs.

OKI first discusses the individual business’s output requirements and then recommends a solution

advertorial


continued…

... print solutions

that SMEs can use

to achieve more

energy efficient,

environmental

friendly printing

“to cater for its specific print needs. It then works directly with the organisation, or in collaboration with a professional partner, to carry out an assessment of current print output. OKI analyses the volumes currently being printed, in A4 or A3, black & white or colour, and agrees a plan to suit the customer’s needs.

This approach has the potential to bring SMEs a range of benefits. First, it makes the often unseen costs of printing highly visible: not just of hardware and consumables but also of storage space and man-hours spent supporting and maintaining a variety of disparate systems. What’s more, it shows SMEs just how much they could save by bringing in the latest high speed, energy efficient products that require a minimum level of support

advertorial

Going Green

OKI’s MPS offering also encourages proactive media management, by allowing the user to choose the right format for the job, effectively reducing paper wastage and time spent on getting the print right.

The use of the latest technologies reduces the carbon footprint of the business’s printing activities. In addition, as part of a broad series of initiatives to improve environmental performance, OKI’s programme for MPS also provides advice, help and training on waste reduction, expert disposal of redundant equipment and a national programme for recycling used consumables.

It also offers SMEs a range of other print solutions that SMEs can use to achieve more energy efficient, environmental friendly printing.

Driven by a combination of industry legislation, a focus on value for money and a desire to improve environmental credentials, SMEs are steadily migrating towards greener printing solutions.

Today, they are typically demanding the highest levels of power management. OKI is a pioneer in this space and many of its latest devices feature an ECO mode to help conserve energy and resources and a deep sleep mode to reduce power consumption to negligible levels when printers are not in use.


advertorial

Further benefits can be garnered by setting printers appropriately. Devices can be set to print in mono as standard, allowing SMEs to reduce unnecessary colour printing, but enabling them to use colour when required. Duplex (double-sided) printing capability is increasingly seen as a standard requirement for devices. OKI print devices can also be set up to print double-sided, as a default option, allowing SMEs to make further cost savings while cutting paper wastage by up to 50%.

Under a Tight ReinOne of the great benefits of MPS is its ability to provide organisations with tight cost control. As part of its own MPS implementation, OKI can provide specialist advice on the best use of resources and information that allows users to know and control costs. Audits are ongoing and a regular part of most MPS implementations.

This kind of approach also allows SMEs to benefit from the use of cost recovery software, which enables them to quickly and easily monitor and track costs and their impact on the bottom line.

As part of any MPS implementation, OKI typically also offers a range of multifunction products (MFPs). These all-in-one devices are often key in

busy SMEs, helping firms to drive productivity by enabling them to scan documents to PDF or email. These devices are compact, easy to manage and increasingly feature integrated control functions, capable of restricting the volume and type of printing individuals are allowed to engage in.

So, in summary, opting for a MPS approach from OKI Printing Solutions can bring a range of benefits to SMEs, helping them monitor, control and cut costs, drive efficiencies and achieve more secure printing. In other words, it is an approach that will clearly benefit almost every SME operating today. www.oki.co.uk

OKI – Delivering Optimum Printing Value for SMEs

To find out more visit www.oki.co.uk or call 01753 819856

ML5700eco – ultra reliable, fast, high duty desktop dot matrix printers

Power to perform

9 or 24-pin, wide or narrow carriage, the ML5700eco Series offers a range of fast, reliable dot matrix printers, all with truly versatile paper handling and low running costs. And with low power consumption, long life ribbons and the ability to print up to 7 part forms, they keep productivity levels high and environmental impact low.

One of the great

benefits of MPS is

its ability to provide

organisations with

tight cost control.

As part of its own

MPS implementation

“

To find out more visit www.oki.co.uk or call 01753 819856

ML5700eco – ultra reliable, fast, high duty desktop dot matrix printers

Power to perform

9 or 24-pin, wide or narrow carriage, the ML5700eco Series offers a range of fast, reliable dot matrix printers, all with truly versatile paper handling and low running costs. And with low power consumption, long life ribbons and the ability to print up to 7 part forms, they keep productivity levels high and environmental impact low.


Green notepads

Paper was invented nearly two thousand years ago and is still today an integral part of our daily lives. According to The Confederation of Paper Industries, paper and board consumption in the UK rose by 1.2 per cent to 10.6 million tonnes last year and the average amount of paper used per person, per year is 200kg.

One of the most widely debated myths is that we should only produce and use recycled papers.

We’re good at recycling – Europe recycles more paper than any other region in the world and has a recycling rate of 68.9 per cent. But the fact is that paper can only be recycled around four to six times before the fibres weaken and lose their papermaking qualities. Virgin pulp is an essential ingredient in the paper making chain, so buyers should be looking at sustainably sourced as well as recycled,

One product that often gets flak for being bad for the environment is paper, but contrary to many misconceptions, paper has some incredible environmental credentials. It is natural, bio-degradeable, comes from a renewable resource and is recyclable.

green notepads

papers and paper products such as notebooks and pads.

What’s interesting is that a recent round of discussion groups conducted by Hamelin Brands (www.hamelinbrands.co.uk) revealed that many consumers assume that all paper products are environmentally-friendly these days.

Hamelin has several recycled offerings in its most popular notebook ranges such as Black n’ Red, Cambridge and Oxford Office and says that it aims to help educate customers on the accreditations that products have, as well as any other environmentally-friendly features, so that they can make eco-responsible choices.

Made in the UKUK-based stationery manufacturer Sinclairs (www.sinclairsproducts.com) produces the Silvine brand of notebooks and pads. The firm has achieved ISO14001 and is also one of only a few stationery manufacturers to have FSC accreditation. Its environmental offering is impressive and offers choice. Notebooks, pads, exercise books etc. come in Everyday and Premium options and feature three paper types – recycled, FSC-certified and C02 neutral.

But the entire Silvine range, not just the recycled variants, has green credentials and enables companies to meet their environmental procurement objectives. Marketing Manager Simon Medley says that 99.99 per cent of Silvine products are made with care in the UK. “We only knowingly buy paper from responsible suppliers, so even if it doesn’t state recycled, CO2 neutral or FSC-certified on the cover, customers can rest assured that the paper is still from sustainable sources.”

Not just recycledPukka Pads (www.pukka-pads.co.uk) says that recycled products have become increasingly popular with both retailers and consumers in the UK market and in order to meet that demand it offers recycled versions of

its most popular products. Its Recycled range constitutes roughly 15 to 20 per cent of its total pad sales.

All of the pads in the Recycled range feature 100 per cent recycled paper but the firm said that a standard Pukka Pad is still quite green. All of the paper used in its non-recycled paper pads and notebooks originates from sustainable sources and all its products are made in mills with ISO9002 and ISO14001 accreditations.

A second lifeRemarkable (www.remarkable.co.uk), a quirky company that turns everyday waste materials into recycled products, uses more recycled paper and card than anything else. Up to three tonnes of recycled paper are used each day to make notepads and notebooks.

Remarkable’s colourful offering includes A4, A5 and A6 perfect bound notepads with covers made from recycled leather or recycled card and 100 per cent recycled paper inside, as well as wiro bound notepads with covers made from recycled packaging.

When it reaches the end of its lifecycle, paper that is sent to landfill or incinerated will produce further greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide or methane) as it degrades. Produced in equal amounts, methane is 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide in terms of contributing to the greenhouse effect. That’s why it’s so important to recycle paper and give it a second life!


Bong AB today announces that it has been awarded the right to carry the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Reduction Label on its mailing solutions made of DuPont™ Tyvek®. The products covered by the Carbon Reduction Label are manufactured from Tyvek® material made by DuPont de Nemours (Luxembourg). They are the first mailing products to achieve Carbon Trust certification and are marketed throughout Western Europe, Poland, and Russia, exclusively by Bong AB.

“We knew that Tyvek® mailing solutions performed well from an environmental point of view because independent experts had already tested them for DuPont™,” says Bill Callcut, European Product Manager – Security, at Bong AB. “That gave us the confidence to go one step further and measure our own greenhouse gas emissions and seek independent certification from the Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company. We’re delighted with the result. It gives our customers reliable and independently verified data on which they can make decisions about the environmental benefits of competing mailing solutions. And it gives us a benchmark against which we can measure our success at further reducing the carbon footprint of our warehousing and distribution processes.”

As part of the footprinting project, DuPont™ de Nemours (Luxembourg) achieved a Carbon Reduction Label for Tyvek® as a raw material sold on the roll. The label applies to Tyvek® produced in Luxembourg.

To achieve certification and qualify for the Carbon Reduction

Bong AB becomes Europe’s first supplier of mailing solutions to carry the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Reduction Label

Label, the footprint of the products was independently certified by the Carbon Trust Footprinting Certification Company. As well as undergoing the rigorous footprint assessment behind Carbon Reduction Label certification, manufacturers must commit to actively reduce the carbon footprint of the labelled products over time.

According to research undertaken by the Carbon Trust, almost nine out of ten consumers want their favourite brands to help combat the threat of climate change by reducing their carbon footprints.

Harry Morrison, Director, Certification, the Carbon Trust, said:

“We congratulate Bong AB on the certification of these products. This achievement proves that by working in partnership with the supply chain, it is possible to measure and reduce entire product lifecycles, from the development of raw materials, right up to the finished products that are sold and disposed of by consumers.”

Bill says: “Over the next two years, Bong AB intends to improve on its environmental performance by cutting the carbon footprint of its warehousing and distribution. That’s the commitment we make by displaying the Carbon Reduction Label. We want mailing solutions made of Tyvek® to be the first-choice material for European businesses that want a robust mailing product with strong green credentials.”visit www.bong.com/tyvek

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Neopost supports the environmental challenge for SMEs

How Neopost can help our customersFranking machines may be best known for saving money and making mail processes faster and more efficient, but choosing a Neopost franking machine also helps our customers meet green objectives. Improve energy efficiencyThe Neopost Group is authorised to use the Energy Star label around the world for its entire digital franking machine range. The Energy Star program encourages corporations and individuals to protect the environment through initiatives aimed at saving energy.

According to research by the European Commission, reducing environmental impact is a high priority for SMEs and this pressure will continue in the coming years from both the market place and legislation.

Reduce landfill by recycling The ink used in Neopost cartridges is specially formulated to comply with Royal Mail specifications and is not hazardous to the environment. To reduce landfill, Neopost recently introduced a new system for recycling addressing and franking ink cartridges. This FREE service gives our customers a postage paid envelope to return used cartridges. More than one cartridge can be sent back at once, reducing the carbon from transport used. Cut journeysReduce fuel costs by not driving to the post office to buy stamps. A franking machine can be re-credited on line 24/7. Since April 6th it has been even cheaper to frank than stamp:-• Save at least 8p on every 2nd class

letter• Save at least 14p on every 2nd class

large letter• Save at least £1.19 on

every 2kg packet.

Cut paper usemyneopost+ is a FREE online service which allows Neopost customers to analyse postal expenditure and manage their postal equipment on-line, a feature no other franking machine supplier provides. Accessing recent invoices and credit notes on-line eliminates the need for paper copies to be sent or stored, saving paper and space.

We’re doing our bitNeopost has cut fuel consumption by 10% in 2 years by choosing more fuel efficient vehicles and setting up a dedicated helpdesk to resolve customer queries, meaning less need for engineer visits. www.neopost.co.uk/SUST

Challenge · Action · Results

Neopost have produced a brochure outlining their commitments to high impact business initiatives including innovative eco-design enhancements throughout their range. To find out more, contact Neopost on 0800 731 1334 quoting SUST.

TurNING IdEAS INTO ACTION

bACkEd bY SOLId rESuLTS

EVErYONE IS A WINNEr!When it comes to corporate responsibility, it’s not only about obligations. And the environment isn’t the only beneficiary. Responsible initiatives offer a real win-win situation for everyone – our business, your business, your budgets and bottom lines, end-users, society and the planet.

Today, when customers purchase a Neopost product, they’re acquiring a solution that saves them more money in energy costs and emits less C02 than current market standards. So being responsible is more than just good ethics – it’s also smart business!

LIGHTENING uP ON PAPErReducing paper waste during mail processes can actually be more effective than all other measures combined. That’s why Neopost also offers software solutions that clean and verify addresses, filter double addresses, and group multiple pieces when it’s the same address – all intelligent ways to cut down on paper and costs at the same time.

Our VISION FOr THE FuTurEWe’ve come so far and we don’t plan on stopping. Environmental and social improvement is a key part of who we are as a business. So we’re not just taking temporary steps. For Neopost, this is a serious commitment and an ongoing journey.

We’ll continue to invest our time, money and R&D effort into finding smarter new ways to minimise our impact, protect our planet and resources, and work to make society a better place. We hope you’ll join us!

Potential improvements can be found just about anywhere – in any product, solution or service. So, through a genuine lifecycle vision and environment mindset, we’ve made it our goal to discover them, wherever they’re hiding.

By implementing a comprehensive lifecycle-analysis tool, with the support of the French Environmental Protection Agency (ADEME) and CODDE Bureau Veritas, we’ve been able to thoroughly examine every aspect of our business, from manufacturing to hardware components, packaging to transport, usage and end-of-life. This allows us to maintain a rigorous eco-design approach, through which we constantly enhance the efficiency and recyclability of our entire range.

For example, in addition to reducing the amount of material used, we’ve optimised the recyclability of our products by replacing elements that previously required glue, as well as metal inserts into plastic, and reduced the number of screws required. What’s more, in most countries we offer our customers a free cartridge-collection program, which minimises waste and makes it easy for them to get involved and be part of the solution.

Taking action is critical, but it’s only the first step! It’s equally essential to constantly track progress and make sure we’re making a real, measurable difference we can be proud of. Fortunately, the hard work is paying off.

One of our most notable achievements has been our eco-design approach, which has had a tremendous impact. Through a massive upgrade of our product range(2), we’re now using 44% less material and 10.5% fewer components than before. Packaging has been reduced by 7%, and all packaging is now 100% cardboard and fully recyclable. On average, our machines are up to 78% recyclable. And, largely thanks to the user-friendly sleep mode, they consume up to 50% less energy.

Furthermore, by putting greater emphasis on shipment forecasting and optimised pallets, we’ve been able to radically reduce airfreight, from 32% of all transport activities in 2004 to just 9% in 2009, which has had a significant contribution on carbon-footprint reduction.

(2) Comparative study between IJ-70 and IS-480 based on life cycle assessment.

Nurturing research partnership with universities and other industrials is a valuable way to develop successful initiatives. Neopost recently teamed up with SUPMECA Ecodesign of Systems to design the remanufacturing and the reverse logistics of our products. Also, following a two-year multi-brand research project co-funded by ADEME, Neopost is currently part of the Synergico consortium(1), working with Sagemcom and two laboratories from the University of Grenoble, G-Scop & G2ELab, to explore new methods to boost energy efficiency at the product-design phase.

(1) http://synergico.g-scop.grenoble-inp.fr

To learn more visit our website www.neopost.com

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• SOS Children’s VillagesSince 2007, Neopost’s French subsidiary, Satas, has been donating €5 from each sales contract to the French SOS Children’s Villages organisation to assist in the construction of new villages. Located throughout the world, these villages allow brothers and sisters who’ve been separated from their parents to continue living together in a safe and happy environment. The program has already raised €125,000 and continues to go strong.

• Support the HospicesChosen by its employees as the ‘Charity of the Year’, Neopost UK is backing Help the Hospices, an aid organisation that supports 213 member hospices. Via this program, Neopost offices throughout the UK work to raise money through awareness events, such as company BBQs, raffles and even dress-down days.

• Ninth year of the bikes for Tykes program in uSA. Neopost USA employees in Milford and Oaks raised money among themselves to purchase 162 bicycles for local children. The Milford NeoLife committee arranged for two truckloads of bikes to be delivered to a Connecticut-based charity which helps economically vulnerable families. In the nine years of our Bikes for Tykes program, our employees have donated 811 bikes to their communities.

POWER IN NUMBERS!

A HELPING HAND FOR PEOPLE IN NEED

It’s a major honour for us to see our eco initiatives recognised by reputable environment-focused organisations. Recently in the Netherlands, Neopost Technologies won the Sinnestriel award, granted by the Friesian Environmental Federation to companies that innovate in the field of sustainability and energy. The honour was presented at the annual Sinnewiken Event, which draws attention to climate change and promotes measures to minimise it. Neopost also took second place in France’s prestigious Prix de la Croissance Verte Numérique(3) awards, organised by ACIDD, an impressive performance within a steep competition of numerous respected brands.

(3) www.prixdelacroissancevertenumerique.eu

AWARD-WINNING RECOGNITION

• neopostproductsarenowdesignedtoconformtothemoststringentandrespectedinternationalenvironmentalstandardsintheworld – even the products that aren’t required. Among these standards is included the prestigious Energy Star certification, which set the benchmark for evolving government regulations.

• our vast certification program covers theentiretyofneopost’sorganisations,includingallsubsidiariesandkeysuppliers:ISO 9001:2008 ISO 14001:2004OHSAS 18001:2007

energyStarroHS - Restriction of Hazardous Substancesweee - Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment erp - Energy Related ProductreACH - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemical

REACHING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

CO2 portion in tons of total transport weightCO2/ton

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

2004 transport ratios

23%

32%45%

Sea Air Ground

Scope:transport from production sites to logistic centersand Folder/Inserter product-distribution centers CO2 portion in tons of total transport weight

2009 transport ratios

Sea Air Ground

29%

9%62%

COVErING EVErY PHASE

OF THE LIFECYCLE

CONTACT uS

TOdAY!

NEOPOST

IN NumbErS

To learn more about Neopost and discover

our entire range of products,

visit us today at www.neopost.co.uk

Our missiOn is tO prOvide custOmers with:

•State-of-the-artm

ailingandshipping

hardware

andsoftwarepro

ducts

•Consultancywith

industryexpertst

oassess

yourcompany’s

mailingneeds

•Financingandm

aintenanceservic

es

•After-salessuppli

estomaintaintop

performance

ofyourmailingo

peration

•Qualitycustome

rservicetoasses

sandassist

allyourneeds

• Based in France, the Group was founded in the 1920s

• Direct operations in more than 18 countries

• #1 producer of mailing solution and shipping products

in Europe, the second largest in the world

• Products sold and distributed in over 90 countries,

including the five largest global markets

•€913.10 million in worldwide revenue in 2009

• 5,500 employees

• Over 800,000 customers

CHALLENGE. ACTION. rESuLTS.

AN ONGOING jOurNEY

IN COrPOrATE rESPONSIbILITY...

As a global provider of high-performance mail solutions, Neopost helps companies work faster, smarter

and more productively. But we also realise that being a leader comes with serious responsibilities. Which is

why we work closely with our customers and partners to take sincere action.

There’s a lot at stake in our world, from energy, landfill and carbon emissions to social and health dilemmas.

Facing these challenges requires more than just nice slogans and eager promises. It requires a solid

commitment! At Neopost, we’re constantly striving to implement concrete, high-impact initiatives at every

level of our business and throughout the entire lifecycle of our products – everything from partner programs

and certification compliance to innovative eco-design enhancements of our entire range.

And we’re happy to say that this commitment has been yielding positive results, such as drastically increased

recycling participation, significant energy reduction and much more.

We value your mail. But we value all the aspects it affects, too!

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WE VALuE YOur mAIL

neOpOst Limited

Neopost House, South Street, Romford, Essex, RM1 2AR

Tel.: (01708) 746000

Fax: (01708) 726361

advertorial


Many businesses looking to minimise the environmental impact of their activities follow the established methodology of reduce, reuse and recycle. This has significantly more effect if you add the additional step of “measure” at both the start and end of the process and then repeat the cycle. By measuring your environmental impact and acting upon it, you move from simple, random – if well intentioned – activities to a more focused carbon management strategy.

I use the term carbon management advisedly because not all actions have a visible carbon connection but carbon, or more strictly tonnes equivalent to CO2 ( T CO2e), is the measure in common usage, often quoted as a carbon footprint. Fitting water butts to the down pipes on your premises to save water may seem removed from changing to more efficient light bulbs. However, both actions will have a measurable effect within a carbon management strategy.

A good starting point is to have a baseline assessment of your business. A properly conducted Greenhouse Gas Audit (conforming to the greenhouse gas protocol) will measure your energy usage from all sources – gas, electric, oil – as well as water and business travel. This will produce a carbon footprint for your business expressed in TCO2e.

Carbon Management: the basics

A carbon management strategy looks at these cost elements and devises a series of actions to make total carbon reductions. Often, these are simple cultural changes such as shutting off unused IT equipment out of hours or opening windows instead of using air conditioning. Others will require capital investment, for example changing from halogen spot lights to new ultra low energy L.E.D. bulbs or fitting motion detection systems for the lights in a meeting room. In most cases, the return on investment (ROI) is achieved relatively quickly.

The ROI from a human perspective can be significant too. Studies have shown that a majority of consumers will choose an environmentally conscious brand over another providing it falls within acceptable price parameters. The same is true for employee job satisfaction. When an organisation actively promotes environmental awareness and actions alongside other corporate and social responsibility actions, employee satisfaction figures rise, as does the desirability for candidates to join such organisations. In this way a carbon strategy can save your company hard cash and help to retain and improve your most valuable asset, your people.

Next stepsAn organisation that has taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint and established a culture that actively looks for further efficiencies will eventually reach a level where further reductions will impede their ability to operate effectively. For businesses that want to carry on shrinking their carbon footprint or even achieve carbon zero status, the last option to consider is carbon offset.

Carbon offset is a very simple concept: first calculate the value of carbon associated with a product, service or business that you cannot reduce any further; then invest in a project that reduces carbon, or prevents its release into the atmosphere, at an equivalent value to your product. By balancing carbon emissions created with emissions saved, you can achieve CarbonZero status for your product, service or business.

The offset concept got off to a bad start in the late 1990s when a number of so called carbon emission reduction projects turned out to be scams. This caused many environmental organisations and NGOs to claim that offsetting was no different to the practice of selling indulgences in the Middle Ages when the rich could pay someone to pray on their behalf.

However, since the full introduction of the Kyoto protocol in 2005 reputable international standards bodies have been established to regulate the industry. Governments, too, have encouraged the creation of a robust and accountable regulatory framework within which to operate their own carbon ‘Cap and Trade’ programs, including the UK’s mandatory climate change and energy saving CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment).

Today, it is a fairly straightforward process to find a reputable carbon offset project and supplier. The cost of each Tonne of carbon credit will vary depending on the standard you wish your credits to comply with. The better programs, such as those that comply with the Swiss-registered Gold Standard, offer significantly more social, health and welfare benefits to the communities where the projects take place. If your purpose is to promote your business or product through a strong positive CSR message, this is the standard to go for.

In the next issue, Steve Hewson will look in more detail at Carbon offsetting and how to market your investment to get the best return.

Steve Hewson, sales and marketing director of co2balance, considers carbon offsetting’s place within an overall carbon management strategy

The best carbon offsetting projects bring social, health and welfare benefits, as well as carbon reductions: co2balance’s project to supply Kenyan villagers with energy-efficient stoves reduces the time and effort spent gathering firewood and reduces the risk of smoke-related health problems.

…a number of so called carbon emission reduction projects turned out to be scams.

“

task environments

Task Systems is one of the

UK’s leading office furniture

suppliers. For 30 years we

have offered clients a complete

service, including the supply of

office furniture, space planning,

installation and support.

We take responsibility for every stageof a project, from the design of ourproducts to their manufacture anddisposal at end of life, and aim toexceed customers’ expectations in allareas, including environmentalperformance.

As an ISO 14001 company, weconstantly monitor and control theimpact of our activities on theenvironment. Our commitment tocontinuous improvement underpinseverything we do, influencing thedesign of our products, the materials

used and our choice ofmanufacturing partners.

We are now taking this to the nextlevel by calculating the carbonfootprint of every product in ourportfolio, with the intention ofreducing Task Systems’ CO2emissions by 20% within the nextfive years.

As well as identifying areas whereimprovements can be made andhelping Task Systems with its owntargets, this information will proveinvaluable to clients with carbonreduction programmes of their own,enabling us to offer an even betterservice to our customers.

Costas Karavias and Tony Daltrey,

joint managing directors, Task Systems

“

”

Manufacturing partners areencouraged to maximise the use ofrecycled material in both steel andchipboard and all wood must beFSC-certified, indicating that it comesfrom forests managed to the highestenvironmental and social standards.

Task's seating suppliers share ourcommitment to sustainability and arecomplaint with leading environmentalaccreditation schemes, including The Furniture Industry SustainabilityProgramme (FISP) and ForestStewardship Certification (FSC).

For businesses that have their owncarbon reduction programmes, Task even offers a selection of carbonneutral chairs.

Desk surfaces are made from FSC-certified board that can be re-used atend of life, ground up and compostedor incinerated and converted intoenergy.

Plastic has been virtually eradicatedfrom our products and any plasticparts that are used are designed foreasy separation at the recyclingstage.

Manufacturing and the supply chain

Manufacturing is outsourced tospecialist steel and board suppliersoffering the economic andenvironmental benefits of economiesof scale. This is reflected in thecarbon footprint of our products andin their strength and durability.

Our supply chain is carefully vettedfor its environmental performance.

Intro

Task Systems is committed toreducing the environmental impact ofour activities at every stage of aproduct's lifecycle from its design andmanufacture to its delivery andinstallation and disposal at end of life.

As an ISO 14001 accreditedcompany we have an environmentalmanagement system in place and aculture of continuous improvement todrive further performanceenhancements. This includes anambitious programme to reducecarbon emissions by 20% over thenext five years.

Design

Task desking and storage productsare created in-house by a team oftalented furniture designers. Thedesign stage is fundamental to aproduct's overall environmentalimpact and decisions made at thisstage will influence up to 70% of aproduct's total carbon footprint.

Because we design all of ourproducts ourselves, we havecomplete control over every aspect ofthe product lifecycle, from thematerials used, to ease of assemblyand recycling at end of life. Thisallows us to minimise our use ofresources and gain maximum valuefrom those that we do consume.

Materials are carefully chosen for theirsustainability. Frames are made fromsteel, which is long-lasting, has a highrecycled content and is 100%recyclable.

The product lifecycle

Disposal

Our desks and filing products aredesigned to last 20 years. But weknow customers have much shorterfurniture replacement cycles.

As part of our environmentalobligations, Task Systems worksclosely with customers to maximisethe useful life of our products andprevent waste going to landfill.

Our desktop replacement serviceallows customers to extend the life ofdesks and tables by keeping thedesk frame and simply changing the top.

If a customer requires new desks, wetake away the old furniture and resellit, or if it is damaged beyond repair,recycle steel and aluminium parts anddispose of the board in anenvironmentally responsible manner.

To help customers comply with theirown CSR policies, we can arrange forunwanted furniture to be donated tocharities and social enterprises.

Installation

Once furniture has been deliveredand installed its impact on theenvironment is neutral. However, theway it is laid out is significant and canhave a major impact on a customer'sown carbon footprint, as well as thecomfort and well-being of itsemployees.

Task Systems’ space planners aretrained to help customers reducetheir own CO2 emissions by devisingoffice layouts that make maximumuse of natural light and minimise theneed for air conditioning.

All cardboard and plastic packagingis removed from the customer'soffices and processed as part of TaskSystems cardboard and plasticrecycling scheme.

Logistics

The warehousing and delivery of TaskSystems products are designed tominimise the use of energy, helping toreduce carbon emissions.

Recently Task Systems moved to a22,000 square foot, energy-efficientwarehouse in Galleons Reach,Becton. The warehouse is built to thelatest thermal efficiency standardsand incorporates high racking tomaximise space utilisation.

As part of our carbon reductionprogramme, all lighting is controlledby PIR sensors and turns offautomatically if no one is present.

From the warehouse, furniture isdelivered to the customer's site usinga modern fleet of diesel trucks andSprinter vans. Delivery routes areplanned using the latest GPSsystems and route planning software.This eliminates unnecessary journeysand improves fuel efficiency.

• ISO 14001 accreditation

• Documented environmental policy

• A culture of continuousimprovement

• Carbon footprints of every product

• 20% reduction of carbon emissionsby 2012

• FSC-certified board

• 100% recyclable steel

• Carbon neutral seating

• Energy-efficient warehouse

• Combined office and warehouse

• Sensor-controlled lighting

• Cardboard recycling

• Supporter of Government ‘cycle to work’ scheme

• Furniture refresh scheme

• Old furniture donated to charity

Administrative offices

At Task Systems, we don't justmonitor the environmental impact ofour furniture products: we alsoattempt to minimise the impact of ouradministrative and office-basedactivities.

Our in-house CSR team makes surethat all employees are aware of ourenvironment policy and put theenvironment at the heart of alldecision-making, from their use ofprinters and PCs to how they get towork in the morning.

Showers and bicycle racks at ouroffices encourage employees to usesustainable means of transport, whileour support of the Government 'cycleto work' scheme provides employeeswith a convenient, low cost and tax-efficient means of acquiring a bicycle.

Last year we moved ouradministrative offices to the Becktonwarehouse. Combining the two partsof our business in one building hasproduced significant energy savingsand eliminated journeys currentlymade between our Shoreditch andBecton sites, greatly reducing travel-related emissions.

Motion-controlled lighting and state-of-the-art insulation at the new sitewill reduce energy consumption,while office recycling schemes willminimise the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Task Systems LtdHead Office: Unit 3 & 4, Block C, Gemini Business Park, Hornet Way, Beckton, London E6 7FF

T: +44 (0)20 7540 6400 F: +44 (0)20 7540 6440

Showroom: 85 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3HY

T: +44 (0)20 7749 1960 F: +44 (0)20 7749 1961

www.tasksystems.co.uk

Disposal

Our desks and filing products aredesigned to last 20 years. But weknow customers have much shorterfurniture replacement cycles.

As part of our environmentalobligations, Task Systems worksclosely with customers to maximisethe useful life of our products andprevent waste going to landfill.

Our desktop replacement serviceallows customers to extend the life ofdesks and tables by keeping thedesk frame and simply changing the top.

If a customer requires new desks, wetake away the old furniture and resellit, or if it is damaged beyond repair,recycle steel and aluminium parts anddispose of the board in anenvironmentally responsible manner.

To help customers comply with theirown CSR policies, we can arrange forunwanted furniture to be donated tocharities and social enterprises.

Installation

Once furniture has been deliveredand installed its impact on theenvironment is neutral. However, theway it is laid out is significant and canhave a major impact on a customer'sown carbon footprint, as well as thecomfort and well-being of itsemployees.

Task Systems’ space planners aretrained to help customers reducetheir own CO2 emissions by devisingoffice layouts that make maximumuse of natural light and minimise theneed for air conditioning.

All cardboard and plastic packagingis removed from the customer'soffices and processed as part of TaskSystems cardboard and plasticrecycling scheme.

Logistics

The warehousing and delivery of TaskSystems products are designed tominimise the use of energy, helping toreduce carbon emissions.

Recently Task Systems moved to a22,000 square foot, energy-efficientwarehouse in Galleons Reach,Becton. The warehouse is built to thelatest thermal efficiency standardsand incorporates high racking tomaximise space utilisation.

As part of our carbon reductionprogramme, all lighting is controlledby PIR sensors and turns offautomatically if no one is present.

From the warehouse, furniture isdelivered to the customer's site usinga modern fleet of diesel trucks andSprinter vans. Delivery routes areplanned using the latest GPSsystems and route planning software.This eliminates unnecessary journeysand improves fuel efficiency.

C

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GreenITAd_A4210x297HR.pdf 4/7/11 09:31:12

Sustainable Times Issue 6

News & Politics

Transcript of Sustainable Times Issue 6