Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Distributors Voice Mixed Reactions Over Italian Reman Laws
Distributors Voice Mixed Reactions Over Italian Reman Laws
Some resellers and distributors have been quick to react over new rules in Italy regarding quotas of cartridges that must be remanufactured.
“Consumers are the ones that make the decision about what kind of products they want to use,” one person reported to RT Media. “How is the Italian government going to police what agencies, corporations and other end-users choose to use in their printers.”
It has been reported that all tenders for ink and toner cartridges must comply with a minimum of 30% of each order to contain remanufactured supplies. The new environmental criteria (CAM) sets this minimum where an integrated service where cartridges are part of a return program, including sorting, cleaning and dismantling as well as being reused again.
Those departments, agencies and corporates that are authorised to purchase cartridges are expected to manage their tendering processes to ensure all tenders meet the CAM compliances that have now been legislated.
New-built cartridges coming from China have captured a large share of the aftermarket in Europe because they are cheaper than remanufactured ones. The cost of collecting, sorting, dismantling and cleaning cartridges for reuse—all related to labor costs and bounties paid for empty cartridges—is not an impost burden for those manufacturing new-build cartridges.
Another person, who has called the new rules as being ridiculous, emailed RT Media, “Reman cartridges use empty OEM cores that have only been used once before. If a reman cartridge is collected it will be rejected for reuse. How is this good for the environment? At the same time, every reman cartridge contains brand new toners or inks, components and packaging. In most cases, only the casing is reused to ensure good quality is maintained during the cartridge’s second life cycle. Today, there is very little difference between a reman and a new-build cartridge.” This person added that governments are not provided with this kind of information when they are being lobbied to make new rules.
In a Skype call to RT Media, another person said, “Remanufacturers are fighting a losing battle in Europe. End-users want a cheaper cartridge that can perform as well as the OEM in terms of yield and print quality and has no intellectual property infringement issues. Yes, these new-builds all come from China, but so do many of the OPC drums, rollers, toners, chips and blades used in the remanufacturing process. This is the new reality.”
Print-Rite Pelikan has also released bio-based new-built cartridges in Europe that can meet tougher environmental laws and is “the cat among the pigeons” bringing disruption to the imaging supplies industry. The bio-based toner made of 48% organic materials, certified by TUV bio-based standards. Lowering CO2 footprint, with all cartridge contents recoverable for reuse, but, if thrown away the cartridge plastics will start to decompose at 90-180 days at 60F and 90% humidity, with no loss or sacrifice, to print performance and is cheaper for the end-user than a new, original cartridge. The Pelikan website has more information.
Related:
- SCC Claims European Voluntary Agreement Lacks Ambition
- IDC: Q3 Western Europe MFP Market Increases in Units
- Disrupting Imaging Supplies in Europe
- Ninestar G&G Starts Cartridge Recycling in Europe and USA
- LockDown Drives Up Inkjet Sales in Europe
- Printer Sales Worse Than Expected in Western Europe
- ETIRA Joins Parliamentarians to Fight for Right to Repair
- ETIRA Demands Environment Action from the EU
Please add your comments below about this news story, “Distributors Voice Mixed Reactions Over Italian Reman Laws.”
It looks as people do not understand about what the world and Europe needs and mandates
China has issued a ban on waste imports and though they shipp tons and tons of plastic in new products they do not want to take care for the waste? Well clearly this is not fair
The rule is not to restrict new cartridges from comming to Europe while they show they stick to the law meaning thay have to be made so that repair is a mandate !
The fact that the new builds comming from China have captured a big ammount of the market is also because they “Skip and avoid cost” that Europeans cannot (WEEE REACH RoHS etc.)
How many of this new build have paid the WEEE fee? This is clearly a Market distortion
But this is not for China mede products but for any kind of Products even if they are made in Europe
And yes the price may be cheaper but we the Europeans have decided that the “Cost ” is way to high .
But again this applies to all origin !
We have a hierarchy and we have to implement being the products made in China being “Made is Spain” or made in in Italy :So dificult to understand?
When a new cartridge shipped to Europe beijng OEM or aftermaket is reused there is a very big environmental benefit independently from decomposing times that may even harm reutilization
Thanks, Javier. You make some very valid points. I do not find myself disagreeing with you at all. However, the end-user is the one who makes the decision. They need to be educated about buying enviro-friendly products and not to use sing-use plastics. This is a huge endeavour and I salute you and ETIRA for the leadership you are demonstrating.
Hi David
Thanks for your acknowledgement
As you know I have “broken a lance for China” and I hope it was a clarifiying one,
On top of education “Customer available Information ” is key .being it to chose a “Long lasting easy to repair” aparatus being it a Reused product.
Regulation 2019 /1020 will represent a very clear milestone
Let me just share w ith you the relevance of WEEE reduction, as 2019 Economic Forum highlited that by 2040 the WEEE impact may reprsesent 1,5 times the global transport impact .And this is very serious
Should we start changing this trend?