University of Nova GoricaUniversity of Nova GoricaGraduate SchoolGraduate School

Environmental Sciences Study ProgrammeEnvironmental Sciences Study Programme

PROJECTPROJECT

GREEN PRINTERGREEN PRINTER

Postgraduate students:Postgraduate students:Synetta MetelkoSynetta MetelkoAndreea OargaAndreea OargaRomana KristofRomana KristofDaniela BabjakDaniela Babjak

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Most of us have a habit of using far more paper than we need to, from Most of us have a habit of using far more paper than we need to, from newspapers that capture our attention for only an hour or two, to printed newspapers that capture our attention for only an hour or two, to printed copies of documents that we could just as easily read from a screen. copies of documents that we could just as easily read from a screen.

Luckily, changing the paper habit isLuckily, changing the paper habit is as easy as keeping the as easy as keeping the three R'sthree R's in in mind: mind: reducereduce, , reusereuse, and , and recycle.recycle.

Always have in mind:Always have in mind: ReduceReduce:: Read and use information directly on your computer screen Read and use information directly on your computer screen

when you can; print documents only when you really need towhen you can; print documents only when you really need to print on both sides of the paper whenever possible.print on both sides of the paper whenever possible. ReuseReuse:: Save paper that is printed on only one side and give it Save paper that is printed on only one side and give it to the kids to color on, or use it as scratch paper for grocery lists, to the kids to color on, or use it as scratch paper for grocery lists, to-do lists, and so on.to-do lists, and so on. RecycleRecycle:: Both ink cartridges and paper are easy to recycle; Both ink cartridges and paper are easy to recycle;

refill ink cartridges if you can, refill ink cartridges if you can, or else send empty cartridges in to be recycled.or else send empty cartridges in to be recycled.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

There are almost 700 000 householdsThere are almost 700 000 households* * in Slovenia in Slovenia

and and 60% 60% of them have an computerof them have an computer**, with , with 1 1 printer per computer.printer per computer.

In SloveniaIn Slovenia, there, there are 854 000 working people* are 854 000 working people*,, withwith 50% of 50% of themthem

workworkinging with with a a computer* (est. 4 computers per printer).computer* (est. 4 computers per printer).

LLifetime of ifetime of analysed printer wasanalysed printer was 55 years. years.

We calculated that in Slovenia we use 526 750 printers We calculated that in Slovenia we use 526 750 printers

(106 750 (106 750 printers in offices printers in offices and 420 000 in households).and 420 000 in households).

*information from Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Our printer was made Our printer was made by Canon, about 6 by Canon, about 6 years ago.years ago.

The printer consists of The printer consists of 6 different materials 6 different materials and 5 components & and 5 components & weights 2.8 kg total weights 2.8 kg total and 2.2 kg net.and 2.2 kg net.

Most of it is made out Most of it is made out of steel and plastics of steel and plastics (some unlabe(some unlabeleled).d).

It It usesuses 20W at 220- 20W at 220-240 V240 V..

Disassembling the printerDisassembling the printer

Disassembly took us 45 Disassembly took us 45 minutes (firstminutes (first,, 1 person, th 1 person, theen 3 n 3 persons)persons) – long disassembly – long disassembly timetime

NoteNotess:: most of plastic parts were most of plastic parts were

connected with a snap fits;connected with a snap fits; design defect: many different design defect: many different

types of screws (required types of screws (required different snaps);different snaps);

printer stepper motor was printer stepper motor was impossible to disassemble impossible to disassemble

Disassembling the printerDisassembling the printer

Here you can see Here you can see the the

smallersmaller parts at the end of parts at the end of

the disassembly procedurethe disassembly procedure..

Disassembly-chart for printerDisassembly-chart for printer

Material - componentMaterial - component Total weight Total weight (g)(g)

PlasticPlastics – ls – lababeeledled 12901290

PPlastics lastics – un– unlablabeeledled 100100

Steel Steel 430430

Rubber Rubber 1010

Sponge (cotton, nylon)Sponge (cotton, nylon) 3030

Packaging (cartboPackaging (cartboaard, plastics)rd, plastics) est. 600est. 600

Other Other componentcomponentss 310310

TOTALTOTAL 27702770 grams grams

Recycling potentialRecycling potential

Most parts are plastics and metal and therefore offer Most parts are plastics and metal and therefore offer

significant recycling potentialsignificant recycling potential..

EEasasierier disassembly with proper tools disassembly with proper tools..

No available data about precise percentage of printer No available data about precise percentage of printer

recyclabilityrecyclability..

Recycling potential of different partsRecycling potential of different parts

RecyclableRecyclable Plastic (labPlastic (labeeled)led) Metal pieces (iron)Metal pieces (iron) Components Components

(valuable metals)(valuable metals) Cardboard and paperCardboard and paper

Not recyclableNot recyclable CopperCopper ZZinincc RRubberubber CCottonotton

51%

8%2%

38%

1%

fabrication

packaging

transportation

use

disposal

EnergyEnergy consumptionconsumption

One One printerprinter

use per day: 0.5h use per day: 0.5h printing, 7.5h in printing, 7.5h in sleep mode and 16h sleep mode and 16h in off modein off mode

transportation: ship transportation: ship from Hang G. from Hang G. (Vietnam) to Trieste (Vietnam) to Trieste (Italy), truck from (Italy), truck from Trieste to GoriziaTrieste to Gorizia

est. for packaging est. for packaging 0.3kg paper and 0.3kg paper and 0.3kg polystyrene0.3kg polystyrene

Printers in SloveniaPrinters in Slovenia

• use for printers in business: 4h printing, 4h sleep mode, 16h off mode• use for households printers are same as for one printer• transportation for each printer alone

GREENING YOUR PRINTER

Avoidance

Reduction

Re-use

Recycling

Burning

Treatment

Disposal

Waste elimination

• Avoid printing – deep green change

• Limit printer’s use with: USB sticks, online document and file transfer, e-books...,

GREENING YOUR PRINTERAvoidance

Reduction

Re-use

Recycling

Burning

Treatment

Disposal

waste minimization

Take in consideration: End-of-Life Cycle, environmental friendly materials and the best dismantling or reusing conditions;

• Printer manufacturing using recycled materials;• Energy saving mode of operation: after 5min the mode

turns to standby, after 10min the printer would shut down itself;

• Waste and energy reduction: using soy ink or other vegetable oil ink; and using paper with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled paper

• Multipurpose printer use (optical text recognition, scanning, photocopying, faxing);

• Reuse: printer stepper motor used for precise operation modes, e.g. robotic arms movements for gluing photovoltaic cells (http://peter-schuetz3.magix.net);

Example: smart use of parts from printers

Photovaoltaic production plant: Stringer machine, which use motorsof the printers to glue photovoltaic cells (motors: Schrittmotor 103-547)

GREENING YOUR PRINTERAvoidance

Reduction

Re-use

Recycling

Burning

Treatment

Disposal

Waste - impact minimization

•Burn non-recyclable plastics, cotton rubber. •Treatment of ink residues

SUSTAINABLE PRINTER

Serves multiple purposes and maximizes shelf life

Raises awareness by displaying environmental specs

Limits ink coverage and areas of solid color

Bears environmental certification

Uses recycled, FSC-certified paper (chlorine-free)

Uses soy- and vegetable-based inks

Avoids foilstamping, thermography, and lamination

Uses up-to-date mailing lists that accurately

target your audience

EnergyEnergy consumptionconsumption- green printer- green printer

43%

9%3%

44%

1% 0%fabrication

packaging

transportation

use

disposal

NoteNote:: Fabricated and Fabricated and

packed with packed with recycled plastics, recycled plastics, metal and paper;metal and paper;

Use stage: printer Use stage: printer after 5 min turns after 5 min turns to sleep mode, to sleep mode, after 10 min shuts after 10 min shuts down;down;

Disposed as Disposed as mixed plastics, mixed plastics, paper and metals paper and metals (mix of virgin and (mix of virgin and recycled inputs)recycled inputs)

Required energy for fabricationRequired energy for fabrication– Canon vs. green printer– Canon vs. green printer

MaterialMaterial

Quantity Quantity for a for a

printer printer (kg)(kg)

Total Total quantity in quantity in Slovenia Slovenia

(t)(t)

Specific energy Specific energy requirementsrequirements

(KJ/kg)(KJ/kg)

Total energy Total energy requirementsrequirements

(one printer)(one printer)

(MJ)(MJ)

Total energy Total energy requirements (all requirements (all

printers in Slovenia)printers in Slovenia)

(GJ)(GJ)

Primary Primary sourcesource

Recycle Recycle sourcesource

Primary Primary sourcesource

Recycle Recycle sourcesource

Primary Primary sourcesource

Recycle Recycle sourcesource

Plastics Plastics

(labeled & (labeled & unlabeled)unlabeled)

11.3.399 732.18732.18 89 24089 240 68 59168 591 133.9133.9 6868 70 53270 532 35 81935 819

SteelSteel 0.430.43 226.50226.50 40 00040 000 18 10018 100 29.629.6 13.313.3 15 59215 592 7 005.77 005.7RubberRubber 0.010.01 5.275.27 67 60067 600 -- 0.70.7 0.70.7 368.7368.7 368.7368.7CottonCotton 0.030.03 15.8015.80 119 000119 000 32 10032 100 3.63.6 0.90.9 1 8961 896 492.1492.1

Plastics Plastics (packaging)(packaging) 0.30.3 158.03158.03 89 24089 240 68 59168 591 21.621.6 13.413.4 11 37811 378 7 326.57 326.5

Cardboard Cardboard (packaging)(packaging) 0.30.3 158.03158.03 12 77012 770 10 01610 016 3.83.8 33 2 0022 002 1 640.31 640.3

TOTALTOTAL 2.462.46 1 1 295.81295.81 417 850417 850 264 998264 998 193.2193.2 99.399.3 101 101 768.7768.7 52 652.352 652.3

Required energy for useRequired energy for use - Canon vs. green printer- Canon vs. green printer

NoteNote: After 5 min the green printer turns into sleep mode, after 10 : After 5 min the green printer turns into sleep mode, after 10 min in off mode.min in off mode.

Working Working modemode

Energy Energy consumptconsumpt

ionion

(Wh)(Wh)

Required energy Required energy requirementsrequirements

for a dayfor a day

(MJ)(MJ)

Total energy Total energy requirements for a requirements for a printer for 5 yearsprinter for 5 years

(GJ)(GJ)

Total energy Total energy requirements for 5 years requirements for 5 years

for whole Sloveniafor whole Slovenia

(TJ)(TJ)

CanonCanonGreen printerGreen printer CanonCanon Green printerGreen printer CanonCanon Green printerGreen printer

Printing Printing modemode 16.616.6 8.48.4 8.48.4 15.3315.33 15.3315.33 8 075.18 075.1 8 075.18 075.1

Sleep Sleep modemode 0.60.6 4.24.2 0.0480.048 7.677.67 0.0880.088 4 040.24 040.2 46.446.4

Off modeOff mode 0.40.4 6.46.4 4.5684.568 11.6811.68 8.3378.337 6 152.46 152.4 4 391.54 391.5

TOTALTOTAL 1919 13.01613.016 34.6834.68 85.4185.41 18 267.718 267.7 12 51312 513

Individual energy consumption (life-cycle)Individual energy consumption (life-cycle)– Canon vs. green printer– Canon vs. green printer

Designing a Designing a new green new green printer we printer we wouldwould save save roughly roughly about 40%about 40%..

Life-cycle stageLife-cycle stage

Energy Energy requirements - requirements -

CanonCanon

(MJ)(MJ)

Energy Energy requirements - requirements - green printergreen printer

(MJ)(MJ)

FabricationFabrication 168168 82.982.9

PackagingPackaging 25.425.4 16.416.4

TransportationTransportation 12.9112.91 12.9112.91

UseUse 125125 85.4185.41

DisposalDisposal 1.471.47 1.471.47

TOTALTOTAL 332.78332.78 199.0199.0

CCONCLUSIONSONCLUSIONS

If printers were made from recycled materials instead of virgin If printers were made from recycled materials instead of virgin materials, the energy consumption for production would be reduced materials, the energy consumption for production would be reduced by more than 50%.by more than 50%.

We did not find any data about energy consumption for the We did not find any data about energy consumption for the production of ink cartridges, but we assume it to be high.production of ink cartridges, but we assume it to be high.

Although ink and paper consumption has an indirect inflow of Although ink and paper consumption has an indirect inflow of energy consumption in the life cycle, we have not taken it into energy consumption in the life cycle, we have not taken it into account in our calculations. We estimate that using a soy ink and a account in our calculations. We estimate that using a soy ink and a 100% recycled paper would decrease energy requirements for 100% recycled paper would decrease energy requirements for about 20% to 30%.about 20% to 30%.