ENVIRONMENT | NEWS Epson Europe has released its latest sustainability report, highlighting milestones including the external validation of its decarbonisation process. This year, Epson secured official validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its greenhouse gas reduction targets, committing to achieve a carbon-negative footprint by 2050. Epson's sustainability efforts have also been recognised by environmental assessment platform, EcoVadis, which awarded the company a Platinum rating for its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Part of Epson’s sustainability efforts in the last year has been the advancement of its partnership with container logistics company, Maersk, to decarbonise its supply chain. Through Maersk’s ‘ECO Delivery Ocean’ programme, Epson has increased its anticipated container volume shipped using low-carbon fuels such as green methanol and biodiesel. According to Epson, this shift reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 82%. An industry-wide group of companies within print has announced the launch of the ‘Sustainable Print Manifesto’, an independently developed initiative created to provide a simplified and universally relevant framework to increase sustainability across all print sectors. The project is grounded in the belief that the print industry must collaborate more if it is to accelerate its progress and limit its environmental impact. According to the initiative, too many sustainability efforts currently remain fragmented – shaped by local regulation, technology limitations, individual company priorities, or regional nuances. By contrast, the Sustainable Print Manifesto aims to offer a globally relevant blueprint for continual improvement, shared learning, and improved collective progress. The manifesto was reportedly built from 12 months of consultation, discussion, and refinement, with figures from across the industry taking part. Founding partners of the initiative include HP, CarbonQuota, Gallus, Domino Printing Sciences, FuturePrint, Sun Chemical, Nazdar, Kavalan, io.tt, CPI Books, The PackScout, CIMPRESS, and Bespoke. The manifesto also has the backing of trade bodies including the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA), Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication (VIGC), and PRINTING United Alliance. At the heart of the Sustainable Print Manifesto is a set of nine principles that aim to be practical and non-competitive, which any organisation can adopt. The Sustainable Print Manifesto is now available for download, with all organisations within the print and packaging value chain invited to read it and get involved. The manifesto is supported by a wide range of organisations and associations within print Epson announces sustainability milestones Organisations launch Sustainable Print Manifesto Epson’s sustainability goals include committing to achieve a carbon-negative footprint by 2050 By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert Futamura, a Japanese manufacturer of cellulose films and packaging products, has announced a solution to help reduce the quantities of microplastics generated from glitter products. Microplastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5mm in size, which can be either intentionally manufactured at that size (primary microplastics) or created when larger plastic items break down (secondary microplastics). A report by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in 2020 suggested that 42,000 tonnes of intentionally present microplastics were being released into the environment annually. Glitter has been particularly criticised in recent years for its contribution to microplastic pollution in oceans and soil. According to Futamura, biodegradable glitter can be created from its NatureFlex materials, which will safely degrade in the environment it was disposed of after use without producing harmful microplastics. The NatureFlex range of cellulose films have demonstrated wastewater biodegradability, as well as degradability in marine and soil environments. The ecological features of NatureFlex also allows it to comply with REACH regulations that came into effect in October 2023, aiming to place restrictions on microplastic production. Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK has announced the launch of its new ‘World on Loan’ consumables recycling programme. Delivered in partnership with its new recycling provider, Waterloo Business Management (WBM), the updated service is designed to offer a streamlined, zero-landfill solution for recycling genuine Konica Minolta printer consumables. As printer cartridge waste is classified as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), Konica Minolta’s new programme offers a fully compliant recycling solution that collects, inspects, and processes used consumables for the recovery and reuse of raw materials. The programme accepts a wide range of genuine Konica Minolta consumables including toner cartridges, bottles, drums, and maintenance kits. Every collected item is processed using methods that prioritise recycling and minimise ecological impact. No waste is sent to landfill, and materials are repurposed into polymers and other reusable resources. As part of the programme, transfer notes and recycling certificates will also be available for download within ten working days, in order to support ISO14001 and EMAS compliance. Secure collection boxes are supplied free of charge as part of the scheme Biodegradable glitter proposed by Futumura Konica Minolta announces zero-landfill solution Unlike conventional glitter, NatureFlex films are made from biodegradable cellulose derived from wood pulp By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert 11 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk January | February 2026 - Issue 358
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