Soy based Inks and Toners

In the remanufacturing industry, toner cartridges are already recyclable, but what about toner itself? Toner, the powdery substance used in laser printers is a petroleum based product. However, research into bio-derived toner offers a sustainable option to the toner industry’s reliance on non renewable, oil based products. Poised to hit markets within the year, soy-based toner offers an environmentally friendly alternative to its petroleum-based predecessor.

In his article on bio-derived toners, author Michael Carlotta notes America’s dependency on an unsustainable resource: oil. As the cost of oil rises, consumers are looking for viable substitutes. He claims that “Bio-derived toner has the potential to quickly become the toner of choice for “green” conscience consumers, industries, businesses and governments” (Carlotta, 2006).

Carlotta also reveals in his article that many OEM printer manufacturing firms are researching soy-derived toner as well. He states that unlike Battelle, these companies do not intend to market the environmentally friendly soy-based products, instead OEM manufacturers “focus […] along the lines of preventing market share loss rather than changing the way their business is run” (Carlotta, 2006). This could mean that when soy-based products hit the market, OEM manufacturers may try to compete with their own soy-derived toner. However, these OEM manufacturers are narrow in their scope because although they research and develop bio-derived toner, these companies have not initiated or marketed campaigns for use of this renewable toner (Carlotta, 2006). Carlotta continues to state that it is the remanufacturing industry, with its efforts to reduce waste and recycle toner cartridges, that will most likely help market and produce a competitive and bio-based toner (Carlotta, 2006).

The New Soy-sation

Battelle, an independent research firm, developed the bio-derived toner and is working with companies to create a marketable product (United, 2004). Much of its soy-based research is funded by the Ohio Soy Bean Council, with Ohio being home to approximately 30000 soy bean farmers (Carlotta, 2006). Initial research centered on producing black toner, but representatives from Batelle state their soy-based toner has the potential to translate successfully into color toner as well (Carlotta, 2006).





 

Angel Printing is an authorized Adobe print service provider & reseller.

Phone: 760.967.0492  |  Fax: 760.967. 0496
3614 Ocean Ranch Blvd.  |  Oceanside, CA 92056