Environmental Screening and Evaluation of Energy-using Products (EuP) Final Report
6 Imaging equipment: Copiers, faxes, printers, scanners, multifunctional devices (Lot 4)
- 6.1 Background
- 6.2 Environmental screening based on the Ecoinvent database
- 6.3 Ecolabel requirements
- 6.4 Technology and market trends
- 6.5 Conclusion
6.1 Background
European Commission has specified “imaging equipment” as a product category which consists of printer, copier, scanner, facsimile machines, and multifunctional devices[²]. For the purpose of the EuP preparatory study Lot 4 was re-defined as Office Imaging Equipment:
Office Imaging Equipment is a commercially available product which was designed for the main purpose of producing a printed image (paper document or photo) from a digital image (provided by a network/card interface) through a marking process. Office Imaging Equipment is also a commercially available product which was designed for the main purpose of producing a digital image from a hardcopy through a scanning/copying process.
The definition covers products which are marketed as printer, copier, facsimile machine, and (document) scanner. The definition also covers multifunction devices (MFD) which incorporate a printing function in combination with a scanning/copying function and/or facsimile function.
Copiers are the most energy intensive type of office equipment. Because they waste energy sitting idle for several hours each day, there is great potential to improve their energy efficiency. All Energy Star compliant copiers automatically turn off after a period of inactivity.
High-speed (> 44 copies per minute) copiers are set to automatically make double sided copies, saving energy and paper costs. Easy and reliable duplex operation will encourage users to copy on both sides. A mid-volume (20 to 44 copies per minute) copier in a low volume office can use 70 percent more energy per page than an efficient low-volume (< 20 copies per minute) copier.
Printers are typically left on 24 hours a day, but are active only a small percent of the time, which means they can waste a lot of energy and money. Energy Star printers automatically power down to 15-45 watts, which can cut a printer's electricity use by over 65 percent.
According to the EuP preparatory study there are considerable uncertainty as to how to define the terms “stand-by”, “sleep mode” and “networked standby”, as defined in Lot 6.The definition of certain power levels or modes such as “on mode” (also referred to as “active mode” or “operation mode”, etc.), “ready mode” (also referred to as “waiting mode”, etc.), “sleep mode” (also referred to as “energy-saving mode” or “standby-mode”, etc.) and “off mode” is not consistent in existing standards or eco-labels and need therefore harmonization in order to be applicable. [Fra2007]
In the future, it is likely that printer products will have two distinct market profiles: 1. High-end, high performing and high quality Laser Printers, primarily for commercial and professional use, and 2. Low-end, cost effective Ink-jet printers, primarily for private use, including photo printing.
6.2 Environmental screening based on the Ecoinvent database
The environmental screening for imaging equipment: Copiers, faxes, printers, scanners, and multifunctional devices are based on the Ecoinvent processes:
- Use, printer, laser jet, b/w, per kg printed paper
- Use, printer, laser jet, colour, per kg printed paper
- Printer, laser jet, b/w, at plant
- Printer, laser jet, colour, at plant
- Toner, black, used for printing
- Toner, colour, used for printing
It has been assumed that the printers can be used as a proxy for copiers, faxes, and multifunctional devices. As scanners cannot print, is likely that their environmental profile will be more like the computers with the exception of the glass and the light source part.
Figure 6.1 and Figure 6.2 show the contributions to the environmental impacts from the use of printers, i.e. the processes “Use, printer, laser jet, b/w, per kg printed paper” and “Use, printer, laser jet, colour, per kg printed paper”. These processes include the production of the printer, production of toner, transport from production to consumer and the electricity consumption during the active use of the printer. Furthermore, the emissions of benzene during use are included (However, there are apparently no data for ozone emissions and emissions of small particle during printing, which are also known issues). The use of paper is not included. It has deliberately been chosen to show the results including the electricity consumption during use (in spite of the fact that the overall goal is to focus on non-energy related environmental impacts) in order to give the impression of the relative significance of the electricity consumption compared to the hardware parts.
It can be seen from Figure 6.1and Figure 6.2 that when using a printer, the electricity consumption is significant for most of the environmental impacts (but for mineral extraction). However, the main contributor to the environmental impacts is the toner. The significance of the production of the printer itself is relatively insignificant. That means that when focusing on environmental aspects, the product development of printers should focus on the toner rather than the hardware.
Figure 6.3 and Figure 6.4 show the screening of the printers and toners. The results of the screening have only been shown for the black and white printer, as the results for the colour printer was almost identical. This also applies for the toner; the environmental impacts where almost the same for the black toner as for the colour toner (per kg). The environmental impacts from production of a printer mainly come from the production of chromium steel (18/8), polystyrene and the toner module. Moreover injection moulding gives significant contributions to ozone layer depletion. The final disposal of the printer gives significant contributions to human toxicity (non-carcinogen) and ecotoxicity (aquatic). The contributions to these are mainly due to emissions of antimony, dioxins, arsenic and copper.
The environmental impacts from the production of toner mainly come from production of the toner module, the toner (powder), production of aluminium and electricity for production the toner.
Figure 6.3 Environmental impacts from the production of a laser jet printer (black and white printer).
Figure 6.4 Environmental impacts from the production of black toner.
6.3 Ecolabel requirements
In the Nordic Ecolabelling criteria for imaging equipment (i.e. Copiers, digital duplicators, facsimile machines (fax), multifunction devices, printers and scanners) [NE2007a], the main focus points are:
- Energy consumption
- Design for recycling (marked plastic parts, prepared for disassembly)
- Reuse of toner cartridges (Products must accept remanufactured toner cartridges. In order to ensure that the toner cartridges are returned for reuse, a return system must be offered for recycling combined toner cartridges and information to user about the return system must be provided.)
- PVC not permitted
- Restrictions on flame retardants and other additives to plastic (cancerogenic, toxic, chemicals that may cause harm to unborn child etc.)
- Batteries used must not contain cadmium, mercury, lead, and their compounds.
- Chemicals containing the following substances regulated in the Montreal Protocol must not be used in the end production of the machines or in the production of circuit boards: CFCs, HCFCs, 1.1.1 trichloro-ethane or carbon-tetrachloride (chemicals that have impact on the ozone layer).
- Supply of spare parts: The availability of spare parts must be guaranteed for at least five years (possibilities for increasing the life time of the product).
- Double-sided copying: Appliances with a maximum operating speed of more than 45 sheets per minute for A4 size paper must be equipped with automatic double-side copying (a duplex-unit). Possibilities for saving paper.
- Limits on the emissions during use for volatile organic compounds, especially benzene and styrene, ozone and dust (following the criteria in “Der Blaue Engel” for office printing devices).
Furthermore, there is Nordic Ecolabelling criteria for remanufactured toner cartridges [NE2006]. The main principle is that the Swan-labelled toner cartridges are remanufactured, refilled cartridges, drum units or powder containers in order to reduce the waste amounts and to lower consumption of energy and raw materials. The toner powder and the toner must not be toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic etc. and there are restrictions on heavy metals and aromatic amines, and there are demands on establishing a take-back system for the used cartridges.
The Energy Star Imaging Equipment specification provides eligibility criteria for products addressed by the Operational Mode (OM) approach and the Typical Electricity Consumption (TEC) approach. The Energy Star Program compliance requirements (power consumption limit values) limits are focusing on the 25% best performing products in each segment. The values indicate good performance only in regards to power consumption.
The German “Blue Angel for Office Equipment with Printing Function” sets out requirements for toners and inks, substance emissions, noise and energy, as well as general requirements for recyclable design, material, marking of plastics, batteries, paper use, photoconductor drums, repairs and maintenance.
6.4 Technology and market trends
Whereas early concern in laser printer technology was focussing on ozone emission, recent efforts in technology development in areas of copiers and printers have mainly focused on reducing energy consumption and optimising recycling of print cartridges.
Most, if not all, modern laser copiers and laser printers now incorporate automatic low-power mode and automatic power down a after set time. Power-managed laser and LED printers can use less than half the energy of a conventional laser model. Most HP LaserJet products require now no more than 1 watt of power in off mode and with Instant-On Technology (IOT), up to 50 percent energy savings have been achieved over traditional fusing technology. The savings enabled by Instant-On Technology since 1993 is more than 5.25 million tons of CO2 [HP2008].
Inkjet printers, which unlike laser printers do not apply a heat fusing mechanism, use less energy than many of the energy-efficient laser printers.
Fax machines employ a variety of technologies including laser, direct thermal, thermal transfer, and ink jet, which consume varying amounts of energy. While the energy use of any type of fax may seem low because of its relatively low use, the fact that it is likely to be kept on around the clock can generate significant costs. By powering down, fax machines can reduce energy costs by almost 40 percent.
Energy Star compliant scanners can enter a low-power mode less than or equal to 12 watts within 15 minutes of inactivity. As a result, they can save more than 50 percent of the equipment's electricity consumption, run cooler and are thus expected to last longer.
Multifunction machines are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among small users. These machines offer users significant energy savings by displacing three or four separate machines with one. Multifunction machines can power down to between 25 and 105 watts after 15 to 120 minutes of inactivity and thereby reduce energy costs by almost 40 percent [ACE32008].
6.5 Conclusion
One overall conclusion in the EuP documents is that the energy efficiency of office imaging equipment is in general on a good level. The reason for this statement is related to the justified assumption that under real life conditions the energy efficiency potential of imaging equipment is not necessarily explored due to a potentially suboptimal use by the consumer. This means for instance, that power management functions could be disabled by the user or that transition mode settings are prolonged to its maximum (e.g. 4 hours). Networked standby and off-mode power consumption requirements are also still of concern. [Fra2007]
6.5.1 Environmental impact in a system and life-cycle perspective
For copiers, printers, and multifunctional devices the main contributor to the environmental impacts is the consumption of paper, the consumption of toner and the electricity consumption during use.
For faxes and scanners, the environmental aspects is assumed to be very close to the environmental aspects of personal computers, as it is assumed that the glass plate has only small environmental impact itself.
Depending on how much the devices are actually used, the significance of the production of the printer itself is relatively insignificant (especially when printing large quantities). This means that when focusing on environmental aspects, the product development of printers should focus on toner (and paper) rather than the hardware.
The conclusion of the Ecoinvent data is that for printing devices the consumption of toner has higher environmental impacts than the electricity use. Focus should be put on designing toners with less environmental impacts. The data also shows that the electricity consumption and the consumption of toner is not the same for b/w printing and for colour printing. This is explained by the fact that colour printing requires far more electricity per page than does b/w printing.
According to the Ecoinvent background reports, colour printing is generally slower, which we assume is the reason for the higher electricity consumption. In real life, the facts will be very dependant on what is printed. Photos require far more toner than a black-and white text page.
The environmental aspects mentioned under “Personal computers and monitors” are also relevant for copiers, faxes, printers, scanners, multifunctional devices (mainly due to the electronic parts). Other aspects of interest are emissions during printing, e.g. ozone, benzene, small particulates and toner chemicals etc. constitute a health risk for the persons working / being in the same room as the printer.
6.5.2 Environmental perspective from new technologies
The functionality and performance of a product will be determined by its design and applied technologies. For copier and printers the image quality – especially colour capability – is a determining factor of increased important. A second factor is the functionality.
Scanners have seen strong market dissemination in the past years. However, market forecasts predict that with the introduction of printer-based multifunction machines, the sales of e.g. flatbed scanners will decline fast. The environmental impact of a scanner is expected to be most directly linked to the power consumption of the light source. Material aspects such as glass and electro-mechanics (MEMS) might also contribute to the environmental footprint of such devices.
Facsimile machines are characterized by an “always online” operation status, a telephony interface and long product usage time. Readiness for immediate operation is therefore determined by the applied marking technology and digital data processing capability. Due to the existing replacement technologies for this type of communication devices (with some few exceptions), the lifecycle of facsimile machines in the decline phase and is not expected to have material environmental impact on the longer term.
6.5.3 Regulation
The results of the base case assessment in the EuP Preparatory study in conjunction with the analysis of best available technology indicate that the energy efficiency of office imaging equipment is in general on a good level. Nevertheless energy efficiency remains a task for continuous improvement.
[2] Call for tenders No. TREN/D140-2005 Preparatory Studies for Eco-design Requirements of EuPs.
Version 1.0 December 2009, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency