Océ UK & the 'eco-friendly' initiatives...

16 October 2007, 10:35am

Océ UK launches world-first carbon positive offset scheme

A world-first Carbon Positive Plus+ programme in the printing industry has been launched today by Océ UK. Announced at Digital Print World in Earls Court, this involves benchmarking its Océ VarioPrint 6000 series printing systems’ energy consumption and operational Co2 emissions.

With the Océ VarioPrint 6000 series, customers will be investing in a machine that is proven to be operationally better than carbon neutral through environmental consultants Shining Earth™. Under the unique offering, Océ has committed to offsetting 200% of the CO2 for each of its Océ VarioPrint 6000 machines sold until at least November 2008.

The carbon offsetting scheme involves international ‘eco-friendly’ initiatives administered through Shining Earth™, which will be subject to its stringent, independent verification. Under the scheme, greenhouse gases will be reduced before they are even emitted.

Carbon Positive Plus+ is being driven by climate change and demands for more advice on environmental issues from Océ’s customers. It is all part of Océ UK further strengthening its environmental credentials with a new long-term alliance with Lincoln-based Shining Earth, which is part of Delta-Simons Environmental Consultants Ltd.

Each of Océ’s printing systems are designed with re-use and recycling in mind – and the company has some of the lowest energy-consuming systems in the marketplace. Now with the launch of the ‘carbon positive’ programme – initially for the Océ VarioPrint 6000 systems – Océ will be even more eco-friendly.

The CO2 emissions calculated under the scheme will be offset in three initial schemes:-

• Renewable energy in China
• Methane capture in Germany
• Tree-planting in the UK.

Gareth Pickles, managing director at Delta-Simons, said: “We’ve gone far beyond the basics and obtained detailed measurements of energy consumption from the machine over many functions and selected offset schemes that we think provide a good balance of environmental benefit. There’s real science to back up everything that Océ is offering.

“This is a unique offering to the market and will be viewed as such. Everybody has an ethical duty to do their bit towards sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, and we take that very seriously.”

Océ will provide carbon offsetting for every customer who purchases or leases one of the Océ VarioPrint 6000 family of systems for a minimum of 12 months. There will also be an opportunity to take up an ‘environmental stewardship’ scheme. Océ has agreed to pay for two days’ consultancy as part of the stewardship appraisal, with the specific intent to help its customers improve environmental performance.

Ed Hudson, marketing manager for Océ UK Ltd’s Digital Document Systems, said: “When we develop our technology, we always take the environment into account. Buyers in the graphic arts industry are very aware of the green issues and do invest in our technology on the basis that it is environmentally friendly.

“We are convinced that Carbon Positive Plus+ is the first of its kind in the world. It’s a serious piece of work and will have far-reaching benefits for our customers and the environment. We sincerely hope that this will enhance our customers’ ability to win work with their own customers. Carbon Positive Plus+ is building on some of the successful environment work that has been done through the Océ Group head office in Venlo, such as sustainability reports and other initiatives.

www.oce.co.uk

GeoConnexion UK