Fujifilm is actively tackling the waste issue at the input end, reducing the amount of material that goes into printers' premises through a number of initiatives

Central to Fujifilm's environmental strategy is the aim of reducing waste at every stage in the manufacture, distribution, usage and disposal cycle of its products. All Fujifilm's manufacturing facilities are ISO 14001-accredited and run ongoing programmes to reduce energy consumption and waste as part of the ‘reduce, re-use, recycle' principle. Its Design for Environment and Lifecycle Assessment initiatives minimise the environmental impact of its products, from their design, manufacture and use through to their eventual disposal.

Fujifilm's green ethos is passed on to its customers not just through its eco-friendly products but also in the way in which the company actively helps its customers to fulfil their own waste reduction aims. Through a variety of different methods, Fujifilm is reducing the amount of material entering a printer's premises, as well as the waste that comes out.

For example, some Fujifilm customers receive their chemistry in 640 or 1000 litre Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) instead of individual 20 litre bottles. Not only does this reduce the number of containers needed, it also leads to a dramatic decrease in the number of deliveries required. Similarly, Fujifilm is continually striving to reduce the amount of packaging used for its plates. For larger volume users, plates can be supplied palletised rather than packed in smaller quantities, significantly reducing the amount of packaging.

Another example of efficient packaging is the supply of inks for the Fujifilm Acuity HD 2504 wide-format inkjet device. Instead of being supplied in rigid plastic bottles, Acuity inks are supplied in pouches which take up less space in delivery and storage, as well as ensuring a lower volume of waste to be disposed of after use.

Some products also reduce the quantity of consumables going into a printer's premises. Fujifilm's FLH-Z range of plate processors with ‘ZAC' Active Control technology typically reduces the amount of chemistry used by 50 per cent. Going further still, Fujifilm's Brillia HD PRO-T processless plate requires no processing at all, leading to a 100 per cent reduction in chemistry requirement.

On the waste disposal side, Fujifilm works in conjunction with both Remondis and J&G Environmental to help its customers to reduce the amount of waste to be disposed of. One example is the Recomasys system from Remondis, which fits between a printer's plate processor and drain. Waste chemistry that would otherwise have to be bottled and collected for disposal is treated using the Recomasys system, neutralising the toxicity to enable it to be disposed of via the drain.

Fujifilm also works with Remondis and J&G Environmental to help customers recycle their aluminium plates. These two companies recycle the aluminium, which has a commercial value, giving printers one less waste disposal issue to worry about - and some money back, especially welcome in difficult times.