This blog was originally published by Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH.
While technology has enhanced convenience, it has also driven a culture of mass production, consumption and disposal. This presents serious challenges such as resource depletion. In response, society is shifting toward a recycling-oriented model. At the same time, consumer expectations have shifted dramatically. Consumers are increasingly favoring products with a less environmental impact and expecting greater environmental accountability from manufacturers.
Brands are being held accountable – not only for the quality of their products, but also for their environmental footprint. Print businesses are no exception. There’s an increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices. There is demand for more responsible production methods that reduce waste, conserve resources, and cut emissions.
For printing businesses, placing environmental management at the heart of their operations is no longer optional – it’s essential for long-term growth and relevance.
Digital printing technology to reduce ecological impact while optimizing business efficiency.
Digital printing for responsible production
It delivers offset-quality print with remarkable color stability and media versatility – including plastics and other challenging substrates. Its advanced automation and simple operation allow businesses to:
Traditional offset printing requires lengthy and complex setup processes. From plate making to color calibration these task are consuming time and require skilled labor and a significant amount of resources (including water and paper waste).
Digital printing revolutionizes this process with plate-free, on-demand printing. Setup is streamlined and largely automated, which results in:
What is needed is printed when it is needed with reduced idle time and improved turnaround speed.
Powerful energy savings
Compared to UV offset printing methods (both LED and metal halide types), digital production consumes far less power for equivalent output.
And, since it does not use printing plates or generate large amounts of wasted papers during color matching, as in offset printing, it is possible to greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions using its digital print system.
This translates to a substantial drop in CO₂ emissions per 1,000 double-sided prints. This is an important metric for companies aiming to meet ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) targets.
Cleaner, safer, and sustainable
Digital production isn’t just more efficient – it is less impactful.
As printing plates are not used, no polluted water is generated during the print run while using VOC-free UV ink eliminates exposure to harmful compounds like benzene, toluene, and xylene. These improvements help businesses foster a safer workplace while aligning with global air quality standards and reducing the impact of photochemical smog and fine particulate pollution.
Konica Minolta anticipated this shift toward responsible production and operation as early as 2009 with its Eco Vision 2050, setting goals such as achieving 100% renewable electricity. This approach has helped it be named a world-wide leader for sustainability programs and services hardcopy by IDC.
In 2023, we pushed the goal further and achieved net zero emissions of 64% across Scope 1, 2, and 3. These aren’t just numbers. They represent real, measurable progress toward sustainability.
We also made it our vision to reduce the amount of earth’s resources used by Konica Minolta to near zero by 2050. We worked towards reducing our use of resources and, where possible, shifting towards using circulated resources. As a global company, employing more than 35,000 people, we believe we have a responsibility to significantly minimize our ecological footprint.
We also support our customers and suppliers in achieving their own environmental goals by sharing our know-how and technology with them.
Adopting print initiative
As part of that, and among Konica Minolta’s most innovative solutions, is its AccurioJet digital inkjet technology that is transforming how printing companies approach production – not just in quality and speed, but in setup time, energy savings, and sustainable output. With the AccurioJet series, users can enjoy higher resolution and even more substrate compatibility, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital print without compromising the environment.
Recognized Leader in Responsible Printing
Konica Minolta’s commitment to sustainability has earned it three-star certification under Japan’s JFPI Green Printing standard for its inkjet technology – the highest rating available.
In particular, the AccurioJet KM-1e has been tested by INGEDE (International Association of the Deinking Industry) and the deinking properties of several paper types printed within the AccurioJet KM-1e system have been passed as fit to be allowed into the paper recycling process. This contributes to the sustainable use of forest resources. It also reduces the amount of disposed paper and generally contributes to waste reduction.
Smart Printing for a Sustainable Future
The Konica Minolta AccurioJet series is more than high-performance digital presses. By reducing setup times, conserving energy, eliminating hazardous emissions and supporting a circular economy, it helps print businesses meet today’s demands while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.
