Epson, a Japanese electronics and printer manufacturer, has announced that it will stop selling and distributing laser printers and related hardware by 2026, citing the technology’s limited availability to make meaningful advances in sustainability.
The company previously stated that switching from laser to inkjet printers could cut global energy emissions by half. It went on to say that the transition could result in global electricity savings of more than 2,240 GWh per year, which is equivalent to approximately 1. 3 million metric tonnes of CO2 per year, or the amount produced by 280,175 cars driven for a year. Furthermore, inkjet printers use 85 percent less energy than comparable-speed laser printers.
Epson had previously halted laser printer sales in many markets but continued in Asia and Europe. Despite the fact that new hardware would not be available everywhere, Epson stated that it would continue to support customers with consumables and spare parts.
“The decision to leave the laser market has been inevitable and in fact, we have already begun this transition in the MENA region. As a company, we’ve committed to sustainable innovation and action, and laser printers don’t fit within that,” said Suat Ozsoy, Business Unit Director, Epson CISMETA.
The sources for this piece include an article in TheRegister.