By Bella Tobing,
Head of Corporate Sustainability & Government Affairs at Epson
The drive for responsible consumption has become second nature for many. Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their actions and embracing positive habits, from swapping plastic bags for reusable ones to recycling at home and in the workplace. These individual actions are vital, but they are only a part of the story.
Certainly, governments in the Middle East have made strong pledges to protect the environment. For example, the UAE aims to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050 and transition to a sustainable, green economy, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals include reducing emissions by 278 million tons annually, generating 50% of domestic power from renewables, and planting 10 billion trees.
But while government action is critically important, there is also much that individuals can do to help solve environmental challenges. Simple but powerful actions include reducing waste by changing behaviours and choosing more environmentally friendly products.
Despite their best efforts, consumers often overlook the hidden environmental costs of the technology they rely on every day, such as the energy use and material consumption of printers. Opting for devices designed for efficiency from the ground up can make a meaningful difference. While no single technology can address sustainability challenges alone, reducing the lifecycle environmental impact of everyday devices is an important step.
Innovation rooted in efficiency
To shift the paradigm, the technology industry must rethink its approach to design. For decades, our product development at Epson has been guided by the Japanese principle of “Sho-Sho-Sei”, a commitment to creating technology that is efficient, compact, and precise. This philosophy was the driving inspiration behind our EcoTank printers, which reimagine ink delivery to help reduce the waste associated with single-use cartridges by using high-capacity, refillable ink tanks. Plus, their efficient operation means one set of refillable ink bottles replaces 79 traditional ink cartridges , reducing material usage.
We have also developed an alternative approach to printing that focuses on lower energy consumption. Our Heat-Free Technology, available for everything from home offices to large enterprises, offers a more energy-efficient approach to printing. Unlike laser printers that must heat a roller to fuse toner to the page, our technology uses precision and pressure to jet ink directly onto the paper. This simple difference means Epson Heat-Free Technology can save up to 96% on energy consumption compared to top-selling laser printers .
Our expertise in creating precise mechanical systems also includes supporting more resource-efficient paper usage and recycling processes. A prime example is our Dry Fibre Technology, which can break down paper back to fibres without having to dissolve it in water. Our visionary office-based paper-recycling system, PaperLab, uses this technology to turn wastepaper into new paper while requiring minimal additional water to maintain system humidity.
This focus on efficiency transcends individual products and reflects a broader philosophy of how we design and manufacture technology.
A holistic commitment to decarbonisation
True corporate accountability requires looking beyond the immediate baseline. At Epson, these innovations are just one core component of our global decarbonisation initiatives, supported by measurable targets. Under our ambitious “Engineered Future 2035” vision, we have set a target to become carbon-negative and underground resource-free by 2050. We have already laid the groundwork, becoming the first manufacturer in Japan to switch to 100% renewable electricity across all our domestic sites in 2021.
However, product manufacturing and energy use are only a part of the lifecycle footprint. Industry commitments must extend far beyond factories and into the complex world of global logistics.
At Epson, we are actively decarbonising our entire value chain with specific, data-backed actions. By switching to high-cube containers for shipping, for instance, we have improved loading capacity by 14.3% , reducing the total number of shipments needed. In the fiscal year 2024, we partnered with Maersk to use alternative fuels, like biodiesel and green methanol, on key shipping routes, an initiative estimated to cut down our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 230 tonnes in its first year. In addition, the opening of a new east-coast shipping route to North America has shortened overland transit, slashing emissions by a further 320 tonnes .
Making a conscious choice
A smarter technology choice, whether at home or in the office, can play a meaningful role in reducing energy use, material consumption, and long-term operational costs. When that choice is backed by proven data, measurable efficiencies, and a clear approach to reducing environmental impact, its value becomes even greater. For consumers and businesses alike, looking more closely at how technology is designed, used, and maintained is an important step towards making more informed decisions.
