PE International , leaders in product sustainability assessment and improvement, performed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on Reflexion cartridges in November, 2007 (click here to download the full report).
The research was conducted using the 4345 cartridge, a model representative of the entire Reflexion product range. The study analyzed the environmental impact of the complete life cycle of a remanufactured Reflexion cartridge in comparison to similar products.
The Life Cycle Assessment examined the four distinct operational factors that impact the environment; manufacturing or remanufacturing, packaging, logistics, and end of life.
The study compared following four different printer cartridge types:
- A single use cartridge that ends up in a landfill.
- A single use cartridge that is used once and then recycled.
- A remanufactured cartridge that ends its life after one reuse and is then recycled.
- The continuous remanufacturing process of Reflexion cartridges.
Summary of Findings
The study uncovered significant differences in carbon dioxide emissions, as well as effects on global warming, ozone depletion, and other environmental factors.
- Single use cartridges that end up in a landfill account for approximately 75% of all non-remanufactured cartridges, and have the most detrimental effect on the environment – emitting 8.3kg of CO2 and contributing 9.9kg to global warming.
- Recycling a single use cartridge at the end of the life cycle cut emissions by nearly half, emitting only 4.6kg of carbon. Unfortunately, very few empty cartridges are recycled correctly.
- Remanufactured cartridges, remanufactured once, produce just over 4kg of carbon dioxide during manufacturing. After recycling the empty cartridge, only 3.3kg of CO2 affects the global warming potential.
- Global warming effects are 72% less with a continuous remanufactured Reflexion cartridge over single use products.
