Collection and Recycling (Recycle) | Collection and Recycling of Consumables
Toner Cartridge Recycling
Canon led the industry by launching its Toner Cartridge Recycling Program in 1990, at a time when there were no company-based systems for product collection and recycling. We have maintained this program over the more than 20 years since, and are currently implementing it in 26 countries. The goal of this program is to separate collected toner cartridges by type and reuse/recycle their parts and materials. Recovery of collected toner cartridges is currently concentrated at four bases, in the United States, France, China and Japan.*1
Under this program, reuse of parts began in China in 1991, with the "closed-loop recycling" system,*2 which achieves the reuse of recycled plastic in products with the same level of quality as new ones, launched in the following year. Similar recycling programs were successively launched in three other locations, with new toner cartridges using reused parts and recycled plastic going on sale around the world.
Also, parts and materials that are not reused by Canon are not sent to landfills, but rather are employed as effective resources. Through this toner cartridge-recycling program, we have achieved a cumulative reduction in the use of new resources of approximately 185,000 tons and reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 430,000 tons.
In 2010, we used the 20th anniversary of the start of the program as an opportunity to launch the "Canon Toner Cartridge Recycling Program 20th Anniversary Website" (in Japanese and English). We are currently offering special content on that website to increase awareness of our recycling efforts.
In the future, we plan to advance the Toner Cartridge Collection and Recycling Program by building a more efficient collection system to reduce environmental impact and developing recycling technologies that facilitate long-term recycling business development.
- *1Toner cartridge recycling sites
・Japan: Canon Ecology Industry Inc.
・United States: Canon Virginia, Inc.
・France: Canon Bretagne S.A.S.
・China: Canon Dalian Business Machines, Inc. - *2Closed-loop recycling
Materials obtained from Canon products collected from the market are reused in Canon products and parts built to uncompromised quality standards.
Closed-Loop Recycling
Used Toner Cartridges Collected (Recovered Amount, by Weight)
First Fully Automated Toner Cartridge Recycling Plant in the Industry
Canon Ecology Industry brought on line the industry's first* fully automated toner cartridge recycling plant in Japan in 2002, with the goal of achieving even more environmentally sound toner cartridge recycling.
This plant is fully automated, from the crushing of toner cartridges through the sorting of steel, aluminum and various plastic materials. The plant automatically carries out an integrated recycling process for such important substances as high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), from high-purity separation through pellet reformation for reuse in toner cartridges.
Also, in January 2008 we established the color cartridge recycling plant at Canon Virginia, our recycling base in the United States. This initiative has facilitated recycling of color toner cartridges, which were previously subject to energy recovery, as materials, and is making possible further CO2 emission reductions.
- *Source: Canon survey
Color Toner Cartridge Recycling Plant (USA)
Automated sorting of returned toner cartridges
The first stage in the process of recycling returned toner cartridges is to sort them by type. Canon Ecology Industries had previously been doing so by hand, but this was a time-consuming process given that there are many cartridge types.
Therefore, at the end of 2009 we began looking into automated sorting methods, and successfully installed an automated system in September 2010, thus improving operational efficiency.
While the attempt to automate the sorting process is rare within the industry, we will continue to monitor its operation with an eye to achieving further efficiency.
Automated toner cartridge sorting system
Ink Cartridge Recycling
Initiatives in Japan
Canon led the industry in launching a recycling program for ink cartridges in Japan in 1996. We have subsequently placed particular emphasis on advancing our materials recycling.
After the recovered ink cartridges are disassembled into constituent parts according to material composition, they are reused effectively as recycled materials or fuel, rather than being treated as landfill waste. Some of the recycled materials are reused in ink cartridges through the "closed-loop recycling system." The remainder is reused as pallets for stacking products, boxes for collecting service parts, and for other applications.
In addition, we have focused on recovery for recycling of ink cartridges through collection points at post offices, mass retailers,companies that use Canon products, schools and other locations.
The Recycling Process
Used Ink Cartridge Collection Volume (Cumulative)
The Ink Cartridge Satogaeri* (Homecoming) Project
To boost ink cartridge collection amounts, it has been necessary for Canon to supplement its own collection points with common collection points in cooperation with other printer manufacturers.
Canon took the initiative in approaching five other companies to cooperatively launch the "Ink Cartridge Satogaeri* (Homecoming) Project" in 2007. Joint collection commenced in April 2008 through common collection boxes for the six companies installed in more than 3,600 post offices throughout Japan. This project has brought greater convenience to customers, and boosted collection volume.
The collected cartridges are sent by Yu-Pack parcel mailing service to a sorting site, where they are divided by printer manufacturer and returned to their original producer, who bears the responsibility for recycling. In recognition of these efforts, in 2011 we were awarded the Superiority Prize at the 13th Green Purchasing Network Awards.
In July 2009, Kitakyushu City Office and its municipal ward offices became the first government offices to act as collection points. Afterwards, a number of other local governments announced their participation, steadily expanding the collection activities. As of the end of April 2012, 151 local governments were participating, with the number of collection points reaching about 1,900.
Ink cartridge collection boxes installed at post offices and other facilities
Support for the SATOYAMA Initiative Through the Satogaeri Project
Canon is working with Ink Cartridge Satogaeri (Homecoming) Project partner companies as well as with Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies to support the SATOYAMA Initiative.
The SATOYAMA Initiative seeks to achieve communities in harmony with nature that benefit both humanity and biodiversity by preserving and developing the satoyama, which in Japan is farmland that people have developed and maintained sustainably since ancient times. The Initiative has extended its activities to include biodiversity-conscious restoration of regions impacted by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Six companies, including Canon, began supporting the International Partnership for the SATOYAMA Initiative (IPSI) in October 2011. One yen is committed to the Initiative for every ink cartridge collected through the Ink Cartridge Satogaeri (Homecoming) Project, and the amount accumulated is donated every six months.
The first donation under this scheme, representing funds collected through March 2011, was around ¥800,000. This money was used to cover the costs of a commemorative film concerning the disaster and restoration efforts in the Kirikiri area of Otsuchicho in Iwate Prefecture. Donations will be used to support projects for restoration of satoyama and satoumi (ancient sustained aquaculture systems) in areas impacted by the Great East Japan Earthquake, such as the Tohoku Green Renaissance Project of the Tohoku University Ecosystem Adaptability Global COE for biodiversity-conscious restoration, in cooperation with IPSI members both inside and outside Japan.
Bellmark Foundation's Educational Support Activities
Since 2005, Canon has conducted ink and toner cartridge collection activities at schools. Through these measures, we cooperate with Bellmark Foundation's educational support activities, promote environmental protection and education, and contribute to local communities. During the years of our collaboration with the Bellmark Foundation, the number of schools participating has risen steadily, to around 15,000 schools as of the end of May 2012.
Booklet introducing the Bellmark Foundation's educational support activities
Initiatives outside Japan
Canon has also recycled ink cartridges outside Japan since 1998. Collected cartridges are reused through materials recycling and other means to reduce waste generation.
As of the end of April 2012, countries and regions in which collection and recycling were underway included the United States, England, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India and Indonesia.
Collection points vary by country, but boxes have been established in mass retail and other cooperating outlets, shopping malls, companies, schools, stations, and Canon service centers and showrooms. Ink cartridges can also be returned to Canon by mail in certain regions, ensuring that the methodology of the campaign is considerate of customer convenience.
In order to promote global environmental protection and the effective use of resources, we plan aggressive expansion of the number of countries covered by these initiatives.
Australia
Taiwan
India
Expanding ink cartridge collection coverage areas outside Japan
We broadly expanded the number of used ink cartridge collection points outside Japan in 2011.
In the United States, we joined with Fedex Office, a large office services chain, in an agreement to have Canon inkjet cartridges collected at their approximately 1,600 locations.
In Europe, we began cartridge collection in England and Germany in addition to France. We will continue to increase our collection points in Europe in 2012.
Our efforts in Asia included the launch, through the cooperation of five printer manufacturers, of the Singapore version of the Ink Cartridge Satogaeri(Homecoming) Project, which is already underway in Japan.
Ink Cartridge Satogaeri (Homecoming) Project in Singapore
Collection and Recycling of Small Secondary Batteries
Small secondary rechargeable batteries are used in many Canon products, such as digital cameras and video recorders.
According to the 2001 Japanese Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Revised Recycling Law), manufacturers of batteries or equipment utilizing batteries are required to collect and recycle used small secondary batteries.
Canon has partnered with Japan Portable Rechargeable Battery Recycling Center (JBRC), Ltd., a general incorporated association, to cooperate in the industry's efforts to promote battery collection and recycling. Customers are also prompted to visit our website as a way to improve collection rates.
Canon is also joining in similar collection and recycling efforts outside Japan; for example, by becoming a member of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) in the United States.
We will continue to develop such activities.
Recycling Containers and Packaging Materials
In accordance with relevant laws and ordinances, Canon provides appropriate labeling on containers and packaging materials that encourages customers to engage in separation and hence facilitate recycling.
Canon has joined the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association, a public interest incorporated foundation, to cooperate in the recycling of these items.
Canon also works to minimize container volume to reduce the volume of discarded containers and packaging materials, including outside Japan.
We will continue to make efforts in this area.
