CREATING ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCT
Green design
At OKI Data Corporation, a holistic approach to green issues is taken when new products are developed. The environmental considerations are automatically integrated into the design, engineering and post-sales care of each product and its consumables. Read more...
- Product assessment
To reduce the environmental impact of a product right from the development phase, OKI Data Corporation assesses the environmental impact of the product throughout its lifecycle and determines the best options to reduce environmental strain and wasteful usage of energy. This includes investigating energy and resource conservation of each product and reduction of chemical substances. The following eco-friendly features can be in many OKI products:
- LED Technology - This advanced technology ensures a long printhead life with high energy efficiency
- ENERGY STAR® Compliance - The certification of superior energy efficiency
- Duplex (2-sided) Printing - This technology allows for savings in energy and resources in addition to using less media
- Eco Mode - This option lowers power consumption while the device is idle to save energy
- Deep-Sleep Mode - This option automatically reduces power consumption to less-than or equal to 1W for added energy savings
- Toner Save Mode - An option that reduces consumable use and waste when a lower resolution output can be utilized
- Individual Toner Cartridges and 1-Piece Image Drum - This allows for less disposable material and reduces excessive waste
- Lifecycle Assessment
The Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) Evaluation evaluates environmental effects by quantifying the materials and energy used throughout the lifecycle of a product - from production to disposal. When comparing CO2 emissions, OKI found that the largest environmental impact is made during customer usage. These insights provided by the LCA are used to inform eco-friendly design and guidance on how to use the product responsibly.
Product assessment reduces the environmental impact of a product by comparing the model being designed with a reference model (e.g., a previous product), giving consideration to environmental criteria such as energy conservation. The design and evaluation process is repeated until all green criteria are satisfied.
For example, the C830dn is a high speed Tabloid/A3 printer that is small in size and cost but big in productivity and professionalism. Using OKI's digital LED technology instead of a laser unit means the C830 is up to 56 percent smaller than other Tabloid/A3 printers - making it the smallest and lightest model in its class - and saving on materials.
RoHS Directive - control of substances
The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive has been in force since July 2006 and its mission is to provide a measurement infrastructure which supports innovation, facilitates fair competition, promotes international trade and protects consumers, health and the environment. OKI Data Corporation is promoting the control of substances subject to the RoHS Directive for all products in the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Japanese markets.
OKI Data Corporation has also built a Global RoHS database containing the measurement data and supplier certificates for every component of each model and ensures that all its suppliers are RoHS compliant maintained by carrying out 'spot checks' for random sampling of components to ensure and maintain ongoing compliance).
To see how OKI Data Corporation has been working with the RoHS compliance, Click here
- Elimination of lead in printed circuit boards
Since 1998, OKI Electric has been developing technology to eliminate lead in printed circuit boards. All printed circuit boards for new products made in Japan now use lead-free soldering. The company has also been promoting the evaluation of lead-free soldering with overseas vendors and has started mass production.
- Chromium free steel sheets
The chromium coating of zinc-plated steel sheets contains very small quantities of hexavalent chromium - a substance subject to the RoHS Directive - to improve antirust performance. In Japan, the OKI Group has completed the substitution of these steel sheets with sheets that are free of hexavalent chromium, but still offer superior anti-rust performance.
- Screws free of hexavalent chromium
All screws used in OKI Data Corporation's products are now free from hexavalent chromium. Precision equipment such as ATMs, one of the OKI Group's major products, contains screws which need to be tightened to specific torques with high accuracy. The OKI Group evaluated trivalent chromium screws as substitutes and defined the specifications for the torque to which the screws must be tightened. The company also trained its workers who assemble the products to respond to the new characteristics.
Green packaging
Packaging, in every market, can have a significant environmental impact during its production and disposal. To reduce these environmental impacts, OKI Data Corporation is striving to design eco-friendly packaging and substitute materials for greener alternatives.
This includes everything from cardboard boxes for products, to the wooden pallets that are used during transport. OKI Data Corporation is even investigating the use of 'bare packaging', where products are covered in polythene during transport, minimizing packaging while giving the same protection from dust and scratching as more heavy-weight materials. Additionally, as an alternative to wooden pallets the company is testing pallets made of corrugated cardboard, which are easier to handle and recycle.
OKI Printers Reduce Air Pollution
As a corporation and manufacturer, OKI is committed to careful stewardship of environmental resources. Most OKI products are compliant with the EPA's ENERGY STAR® Program.
OKI printers are designed to cut energy consumption up to 50% when they are idle. This reduces the risk of air pollution resulting from power generation and reduces your operating costs.
And our digital LED technology make the working environment healthier by virtually eliminating ozone production.
