05.13.2024
Mimaki USA, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutters, today announced new paper-based ink cartridge packaging, the latest initiative in Mimaki Engineering’s (Nagano, Japan) sustainability program. This new packaging replaces plastic housing for ink cartridges and is intended to reduce plastic waste and CO2 emissions. This project continues Mimaki Engineering’s progress towards its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and provides customers with a more earth-friendly alternative that helps eliminate plastic usage from ink cartridge products.
New paper housing reduces plastic usage and CO2 emissions
The paper housing is used in SS21 eco-solvent 440ml ink cartridges for Mimaki CJV Series and JV Series eco-solvent graphic printers. By replacing the previous plastic cartridge material with paper, the company has reduced the amount of plastic used per cartridge. Mimaki Engineering established an in-house standard for plastic reduction rate and has achieved a reduction rate of 68% for the SS21 ink cartridge. This is expected to reduce the amount of plastic used by approximately 44 tons per year and CO2 emissions from the plastic manufacturing process by approximately 57 tons per year. Furthermore, paper ink cartridges are lighter than conventional plastic, which is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from worldwide transportation by approximately eight tons per year, thereby contributing to a decarbonized society.
In addition, this ink cartridge was awarded the Industrial Packaging Category Award in the 2023 Japan Packaging Contest last year under the theme “From Design to Logistics.” This product was recognized by the Japan Packaging Institute for packaging that responds to resource and labor-saving concerns while reducing capacity, weight, and cost.
Contribution to Mimaki Sustainability Development Goals
Mimaki Engineering and the Mimaki Group are keenly committed to resource-recycling management and technology as part of our response to sustainability. Mimaki has been promoting the expansion of its digital on-demand print business, which contributes to social and environmental needs through its unique inkjet technology. The main efforts toward the SDG program are as follows.
・ NeoChromato, a technology that contributes to material recycling and contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions through the reuse of textile material.
・ TRAPIS, a next-generation digital transfer sublimation printing system that makes textile production more environmentally friendly by reducing up to 90 percent of wastewater, compared to conventional methods.
In addition to the above, as an environmental measure, Mimaki Engineering began reducing the amount of cushioning material used for two-liter ink packs at its head office plant ahead of other plants, and in 2023 it rolled out this initiative to all of the company’s ink-producing plants. Going forward, the company will continue to accurately capture digital transformation data and respond quickly to social and environmental needs leading to advanced added value such as automated and labor-saving, high-speed and high-quality printing, and waterless textile printing. At the same time, Mimaki Engineering will promote more environmentally friendly business activities to contribute to the community and realize a sustainable society.
