Fuji Xerox has become the first company in the New Zealand print industry to have its Product Stewardship Scheme accredited by the Ministry for the Environment.
The accreditation comes from Fuji Xerox reducing its environmental footprint with its Zero Landfill Scheme, which aims to divert 99.5 per cent of all returned Fuji Xerox branded equipment, consumables and associated packaging through either re-use or recycling.
Gavin Pollard, managing director of Fuji Xerox New Zealand, says, “We calculate that over 1200 tonnes of our equipment and consumables are diverted from landfill annually, including 99.5 per cent of all returned printers, copiers, toner bottles, print cartridges, drums, rollers, fuser oil, and associated packaging,”
Over 80 per cent of the collected equipment comes from customers, who return it to the company through product trade-ins before going to Fuji Xerox warehouses in the main centres for assessment as to whether it becomes reused or recycled. Fuji Xerox packaging is recycled in New Zealand and any material that is unable to be recycled locally is exported for recycling.
Minister for the Environment, Dr Nick Smith presented the accreditation at Fuji Xerox’s Auckland offices, making the company one of only thirteen in New Zealand to receive it since the Waste Minimisation Act was passed in 2008.
Dr Smith says Fuji Xerox’s Zero Landfill scheme results in robust benefits for the environment, while also stacking up commercially. He says, “To reduce the need to source new raw materials and save money, Fuji Xerox designs and manufactures their equipment with extended life use in mind, and also incorporates internal modules that can be reused multiple times across several successive generations of products.
“The Fuji Xerox’s Zero Landfill scheme demonstrates that it is achievable for global electronic corporates to voluntarily take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products.
Pollard says that, with a solid commitment over the last decade to become the New Zealand market leader in sustainable business practices in its sector, Fuji Xerox has led the way in addressing sustainability at every level of the value chain, from product procurement through to the end of life products. He says, “We maintain an unwavering commitment to the environment and will continue to do so by recycling our products, manufacturing environmentally friendly equipment and supporting environmental programmes.
“Having our Product Stewardship Scheme formally recognised by the government means a great deal to the company, acknowledging our ongoing commitment to sustainability and providing the impetus to continue to lead the way in this important area for our sector.”
