Nine out of ten IT professionals stress importance of eco-sustainability when making purchasing decisions
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Epson’s compact, efficient, and precision technologies help businesses make the switch to ‘green’ IT
13 April 2016 – Eighty-nine percent of European IT professionals[1] surveyed during CeBIT 2016, Europe’s largest annual technology industry event, stated that environmental considerations have become more important or maintained their importance over the past three years. In companies with over 500 people, 62% of respondents said that the importance of sustainability had increased significantly; whereas in companies with fewer than 10 employees, just under half (41%) of respondents agreed that it has increased significantly.
This comes at a time when public procurement across the European Union will be more visibly accountable for the environmental performance of purchased IT goods and services. From 18 April 2016, the European Commission’s New Public Procurement Directives come into effect and complement the existing Green Public Procurement (GPP) guidelines. Under the new rules, any public procurement award procedure must be covered by a specific report by the public purchaser explaining the decisions related to the procedure.
The survey, conducted amongst 790 European IT professionals attending CeBIT from 14 to 18 March 2016, revealed that companies are increasingly looking to reduce the environmental footprint of their core business operations by replacing older, inefficient IT equipment. Half of all respondents (51%) said environmental considerations play a substantial role in the decision to upgrade workplace technology. In companies with over 500 employees, however, 60% flagged the importance of environmental considerations, compared to 44% of those working for mid-sized companies (10-99 employees).
Epson Germany Country Manager and sustainability spokesperson, Henning Ohlsson, comments: “The survey results show that a growing number of smart businesses – especially large corporates that have the assets to update technology frequently – are already making the switch to greener IT equipment fleets to future proof their workplace.”
In fact, inkjet printing is growing in popularity among many businesses today as the benefits of inkjet technology are aligned to all key drivers of business growth: cost reduction, lower environmental footprint, increased productivity, drive for quality and increased resources. As a result, the business inkjet market is expected to grow quickly over the coming years - forecast to account for 34% of the total business printer market by 2019, according to IDC research.
Epson’s business inkjet printer solutions, WorkForce Pro, are able to offer both speed and print quality as well as up to 80% reduction in power consumption. On top of that, Epson’s Replaceable Ink Pack System (RIPS) for the WorkForce Pro are super-high-yield ink supply units that deliver up to 75,000 pages of uninterrupted print without the need for a consumables change – an obvious plus for big businesses printing in large quantities – and deliver 96% energy savings, 92% CO2 emissions reduction, and 95% less waste when compared to similar laser printers[2].
Ohlssen continues: “With the universal climate deal adopted at COP21 and the EU’s plans to develop a low carbon economy by 2050, the environmental impact of IT in businesses will be increasingly scrutinised. To address this issue, our compact, efficient, precision technologies are designed to reduce our customer’s environmental impact across their products, services and all areas of their operations.”
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Notes to Editor
About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises nearly 72,000 employees in 93 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts.
Environmental Vision 2050
[1] A survey of 790 IT professionals across Europe attending CeBIT, 14-18 March 2016.
[2] As tested by BLI, over two months to April 2015, against a selection of competing machines, as commissioned by Epson. For more information visit www.epson.eu/inkjetsaving