Paper is manufactured from basically renewable raw materials. But as paper use increases, the availability of cultivated wood and the energy and water needed for paper production are reasons for concern. Given the volume of paper Océ equipment handles, it is important the company find sustainable ways of doing business. For that reason Océ has made paper a focal area in its sustainability strategy. The Océ Imaging Supplies business group, one of the world’s largest converters of both plain paper and Computer Aided Design (CAD) media, set up an Océ Paper Sustainability Program. This program concentrates on sustainable forestry, paper recycling, paper waste and energy (CO2 emissions).
Océ’s targets:
Short term
A minimum growth of 50% in the sourced volume of Océ recycled paper for the European market will be realized over 2008
By 2010 more than 90% of the paper volume sourced will carry a certification label for sustainable paper¹
Long term
¹Sustainable paper is paper originating from certified sustainable sources. The following certification labels apply: FSC, PEFC, SFI, Eco-flower. Recycled paper is not included.
Supporting sustainable forestry
Océ paper originates from renewable forests, sawdust and forest thinning waste. Most of these papers originate from the Scandinavian countries and carry their own certification label, Nordic Swan. Since 2006 Océ has also supplied paper under the Forest Stewardship Council [FSC] label, which means that all links in the production and converting chain have been certified according to Chain of Custody certification.
In 2009, Océ Imaging Supplies gained PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) certification for 75% of Océ wide format plain paper media. The certification provides a number of important assurances on the legality and sustainability of the paper, from the forest to final use. The PEFC is a global umbrella organization that promotes sustainable forest management. It is supported by 149 governments worldwide and covers 85% of the world’s forested areas.
Océ also offers EU Ecolabel-certified paper. This European certification system covers the total production process, from the fibers used, to energy usage, emissions of pollutants and waste management.
Reducing paper waste
All the different types of Océ media are put through a thorough testing procedure at the company’s Supplies Knowledge Center to help customers get the best possible performance. This reduces the chance of misprints and paper jams, thus reducing paper waste at customers’ sites. In addition, Océ has produced a number of solutions to minimize incorrect and unnecessary prints:
For more than a decade, Océ equipment has featured the mailbox functionality for networked printers. This means remotely submitted prints are made only at the time of collection at the printer. Normally around 20% of prints are never collected, so the savings are clear.
A key benefit is duplex printing, which can give 40% paper savings in a typical print run. Paper savings are an important aspect of product development at Océ.
Ease of use, with simple and clear printer operation, helps to avoid misprints. The Océ “Green button” concept means prints are right first time, every time.
Océ’s print workflow software helps customers avoid misprints: The award-winning Océ PRISMAprepare pre-production software allows users to visually inspect finished documents fully on a computer screen, before sending them to the printer. This “WYSIWYG” (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) visualization eliminates waste caused by wrongly finished documents.
Another important factor is the matching of the printer to the desired print medium. For example almost all Océ printers can handle recycled paper. The very high volume printers can also handle various special paper grades such as newsprint and ultra-thin paper (32 g/m2) for patient information leaflets with pharmaceuticals.
Recycling
Recycling is an important aspect of sustainability. The biggest advantage of recycled papers is that no trees have to be cut for production, because existing fibers are used. Océ is committed to increase the use of recycled paper. The Océ Recycled Label has been in our product assortment for many years and continues to grow. Next to that we have “white” recycled papers in our assortment. These products have grown in popularity in the past years too.
In 2010, Océ worked together with partners to develop the first Cradle to Cradle paper. Waste paper is picked up at customers’ sites and transported to a paper mill. Here it is recycled into office paper. The new paper is then sold to customers again, thereby closing the loop. This new Cradle to Cradle Silver certified paper was launched in January 2011.
One of the steps in the production of recycled paper is the removal of ink from the paper pulp. Océ cooperates with various partners in the field of de-inking. As a member of the Digital Print De-inking Alliance (DPDA), Océ supports research into practical and costeffective solutions for recycling inkjet printed paper.
