| | | | | called Verdigris, aims to identify areas in the print |
| Canon are currently conducting research within | | | | industry that need the most attention and the results |
| the printing industry to find out what issues professional | | | | will be made available free to the industry. It is hoped |
| printers are being faced with on a daily basis and what | | | | that Verdigris will be very important to the printing |
| tools and resources would be most effective in | | | | industry as a whole in reducing the impact this industry |
| supporting them. This research is being conducted to | | | | has on the environment. |
| aid the development of an environmental module in the | | | | Steps have been taken to increase the use of |
| Essential Business Builder Programme. The Essential | | | | bio-plastics in multifunctional printers and photocopiers. It |
| Business Builder Programme provides tools, | | | | has been shown that plastics containing plant-derived |
| workshops and consultancy to businesses in the | | | | components require less oil and have 20 percent |
| professional printing industry. Environmental concerns | | | | fewer manufacturing CO2 emissions than wholly |
| are having a big impact on this industry. Canon are | | | | petroleum based products. The use of these |
| hoping the environmental module to the EBBP will help | | | | bio-plastics in the manufacturing of photocopiers has |
| professional print businesses to turn environmental | | | | been limited up until recently because of their |
| challenges into business opportunities. This module is | | | | shortcomings in the areas of flame retardance, impact |
| also being implemented to help to ensure that the | | | | resistance, heat resistance and malleability. A new |
| environment is an integral part of a successful, ongoing | | | | bio-plastic called Ecodear has been developed and |
| business programme. | | | | reaches high levels of flame retardance, making it |
| Leading manufacturers in the photocopier and printing | | | | suitable for use in exterior parts of multifunctional |
| industries ( have joined up to back a new scheme set | | | | photocopiers. According to Sustainable Times |
| up by Digital Dots. This scheme has been launched to | | | | magazine (Winter 2008/9 issue) Canon plans to use 10 |
| analyse the environmental impact of of print media at | | | | tons of the material. which includes 25 percent plant |
| each stage of the production chain. The new initiative, | | | | derived material, in 2009. |
