Business News

New Océ 2008 Sustainability Report Documents “Best-in-Class” Strategic Vision

Wednesday 29. April 2009 - Océ refines sustainability measurements, sales of eco-friendly renovated systems soar

Océ, an international leader in digital document management and delivery, announced its new 2008 Océ Sustainability Report. The report describes a clear, more measurable sustainability strategy based on five focal points and describes the company’s ongoing efforts to advance sustainability awareness both internally and externally.

“Océ has always been clear about its commitment to being a sustainable company, and our history of commitment goes back decades. We strive to be ‘best in class’ in minimizing environmental footprint and maximizing the well being of our people. The new report documents our progress and demonstrates to the world that documents can be managed eco-efficiently and ultimately eco-effectively,” said Joseph D. Skrzypczak, President and CEO, Océ North America.

Several years ago, Océ began developing a sustainability strategy with measurable targets. Following analysis of customer concerns, Océ identified five focal points of a policy to guide sustainability activities:
Maximize reuse of materials and minimize landfill waste
Minimize energy consumption per print
Minimize emissions of ozone, dust, toner and noise
Minimize incorrect and unnecessary prints
Establish Océ as the employer of choice
Océ develops and manufactures products in a sustainable way and enables customers to operate in a sustainable manner as well. Océ technology innovation helps customers reduce their carbon footprint and energy usage. Recent examples include Océ Gemini Instant Duplex technology-based products such as the Océ VarioPrint 6000 family of simultaneous digital duplex cutsheet printers. With Océ Gemini Instant Duplex technology and an efficient single-pass operation, the Océ VarioPrint 6000 family uses paper, toner and energy more economically. The award-winning Océ VarioPrint 6250 system emits 50 percent less ozone, uses up to 30 percent less power consumption than its competitors, and has no toner waste. The result is a healthier print environment for employees. According to the latest InfoTrends research, in 2008 the Océ VarioPrint 6000 family achieved 58 percent U.S. placement market share in the 200+ ipm monochrome cutsheet printer segment, demonstrating strong market interest in environmentally sound printing technology.

Launched in 2008, Océ CrystalPoint technology is being used in a number of new system applications. Océ CrystalPoint printing uses solid Océ TonerPearls toner in a tonergel jetting process, resulting in a totally clean system with no ozone, odor or fine powder emissions. As a result, products incorporating this technology require less energy, produce less waste, emit less ozone and make less noise. The small amount of toner waste is completely non-toxic and solid, making it easy to handle and dispose of as regular office waste. In addition, since it prints an even semi-gloss, high quality image on uncoated and even recycled paper, the technology reduces the use of paper coatings that can impact the environment.

Océ is a leader in providing earth-friendly engineering and preventing products from entering waste streams prematurely. Last year, through remanufacturing policies, only six percent of industrial waste was sent to landfills, while 89 percent was reused or recycled. Many Océ components can be reused in new systems, limiting the environmental impact as a result. Re-use means less energy, waste and ozone produced during product life cycles. Re-use is more environmentally friendly than recycling, because no waste is produced during processing. For decades, Océ has re-used many components and modules of systems that are returned from the market. When a machine reaches the end of its economic lifespan, Océ reclaims it and strives to reuse components. Systems get a “second life” through reused components, instead of being discarded as waste.

The results have been impressive, and sales of re-used Océ printing systems are soaring. In 2008, Océ sold approximately 5,000 renovated systems, an increase of some 60 percent over 2007. The re-used printers come from Océ Asset Recovery plants. The first opened in Venlo in 1990, and others have been added in Chicago, Munich and Prague. Collectively, these plants supplied 5,000 renovated printing systems and 130,000 components and modules in 2008.

The new Océ 2008 Sustainability Report can be found on www.sustainability.oce.com/sustainability-2008.asp, along with an overview of the company’s sustainability strategy, objectives and results.

Additional Background on Océ Sustainability Efforts
Sustainability has been a defining philosophy of Océ from the start, and the company’s efforts are recognized around the world. In 1975, Océ received Europe’s first award in Research in Environmental Protection. Océ was one of the first RoHS-compliant companies, implementing the investment across its product line, from Océ VarioPrint cutsheet systems to Océ VarioStream? continuous form systems. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), a requirement in Europe, controls use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment.

Many Océ-manufactured products are ISO-certified and have met the criteria of the United Nations Global Compact since 2002. In 2006 Océ received the FEDEX Kinkos Best in Sustainability/Environmental Performance award. In June 2008, Climate Action recognized Océ as an environmental leader. Océ was the only production company in the industry to receive this distinction based on our sustainable products and business practices.

Members of the Océ VarioPrint multifunction family have been awarded Blue Angel certification for fulfilling strict requirements on emissions of dust, heat, ozone and noise. No carcinogenic, mutagenic or repro-toxic substances may be added to the plastics used in casing and toners; the maximum emission levels for volatile organic compounds, ozone and dust may not be exceeded; and noise production (sound power level) may not exceed 75 dB(A). Océ VarioPrint systems using Océ CopyPress technology produce virtually no ozone emissions, and their photoconductors contain no toxic elements. As an ENERGY STAR partner, Océ is committed to products that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for efficiency.

Océ has been recognized for its social and environmental responsibility by a number of international organizations. Océ is fourth in Van Lanschot Bankiers’ Corporate Social Responsibility Benchmark and sixth in the Responsible Supply Chain Management Benchmark of the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO). The company has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index since 2004 and endorses the UN Global Compact. In addition, Océ is a member of various European and international public and private initiatives related to sustainability.