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Responsible Technology in the Age of Environmental Accountability

As we observe World Environment Day 2025, the call for meaningful environmental action has never been louder. Businesses across every sector are being asked to move beyond rhetoric and deliver measurable, long-term change – not just in headline sustainability strategies, but in everyday operations.

At NCS Office Systems, we believe environmental progress begins with smarter decision-making -including how organisations print, communicate, and manage information. Through our partnership with Lexmark, we are supporting clients in embedding sustainability into their infrastructure, with intelligent print solutions that reduce waste, improve efficiency, and lower environmental impact.

This World Environment Day, we’re highlighting how Lexmark’s industry leadership in post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, product lifecycle optimisation, and sustainable design is enabling businesses to make genuine progress – one smarter print decision at a time.

Rethinking Printing as an Environmental Opportunity

Despite being central to daily operations, printing often escapes scrutiny when organisations assess their environmental impact. Yet, the effects are significant:

• Large volumes of plastic and packaging waste
• High energy use across distributed fleets
• Toner and cartridge disposal challenges
• Excessive paper usage, particularly in unmonitored or decentralised environments

By addressing these factors, businesses can make rapid and measurable improvements to both their carbon footprint and their operational costs.

Lexmark’s Leadership in Circular Print Manufacturing

Lexmark has pioneered the responsible design and manufacturing of printers for more than two decades, with an emphasis on reducing dependency on virgin materials and closing the loop on plastic usage.

Key achievements include:

• 100% of Lexmark’s own-developed laser printers shipped in 2023 contained post-consumer recycled plastic
• Nearly 70% of all devices shipped globally included over 30% PCR content by weight
• Over 2,100 metric tonnes of virgin plastic avoided in 2023
• The launch of the Lexmark CS963se, their most sustainable device to date, with a PCR content of 72%

These figures are not simply symbolic. They represent an industry-wide shift toward accountability in design – one that NCS proudly supports and brings to customers across commercial, retail, public sector, and education environments.

Solving the Technical Challenges of Recycled Materials

Creating high-performance hardware from recycled content is a complex process, particularly when durability, thermal tolerance, and consistency are essential. Lexmark’s success in this area comes down to:

• Proprietary closed-loop recycling systems
• Long-term supplier partnerships to refine material quality
• Design-for-sustainability principles including modular construction, minimal glues, and ease of disassembly
• Continuous performance testing to ensure no compromise in device function or lifespan

This enables NCS to supply customers with print solutions that are not only reliable and efficient but also demonstrably lower in environmental impact.

Standards, Certifications, and Compliance

Lexmark’s hardware is certified to leading international environmental and safety standards, including:

• Blue Angel (DE): for low emissions, energy efficiency, and recyclability
• EPEAT: global ecolabel for sustainable IT products
• RoHS & REACH: compliance with European chemical safety legislation
• UL Environmental Standards: third-party validation of environmental claims

These credentials give our clients assurance that their print infrastructure aligns with best-practice environmental frameworks and can support their own ESG and procurement policies.

NCS Office Systems: Delivering Measurable Sustainability at Scale

At NCS, we go beyond hardware supply. Our approach to managed print and document services enables clients to transform the way they print, with sustainability and efficiency built in from day one.

We deliver:

• High-efficiency Lexmark devices with leading PCR content
• Device consolidation and print fleet right-sizing
• Print usage audits and sustainability reporting dashboards
• Toner cartridge take-back schemes and auto-replenishment
• Policy implementation for duplex printing, secure release, and user quotas

All of this is managed under a strategic roadmap that supports both operational goals and long-term environmental progress.

Looking Ahead: Lexmark’s 2025–26 Environmental Goals

World Environment Day is a moment to reflect – but also to look forward. Lexmark continues to raise the bar for sustainable printing by:

• Targeting a 50% average PCR content across their entire product line
• Expanding closed-loop systems globally to recover and reuse more materials
• Increasing energy efficiency in device design
• Reducing shipping-related emissions through packaging redesign and route optimisation

Through our partnership, NCS customers benefit directly from these innovations – gaining access to hardware that meets not only today’s needs, but the expectations of tomorrow’s regulators, employees, and stakeholders.

Take Action This World Environment Day

Whether you’re looking to reduce emissions, improve circularity, or simply use fewer resources, print is an accessible and high-impact place to start.

Three ways to begin:

1. Book a print sustainability assessment with NCS
2. Upgrade to Lexmark devices with high PCR content and energy efficiency
3. Set internal targets for print reduction and waste diversion – and let us help you meet them

Small Changes, Big Impact

World Environment Day 2025 reminds us that environmental responsibility is not defined by grand gestures – but by consistent, meaningful choices embedded in everyday operations.

At NCS Office Systems, we are proud to work with manufacturers like Lexmark who are not only talking about sustainability, but delivering it. And we’re here to help our clients do the same.

To learn more about sustainable print solutions and managed services:

Call: 03452 003 300

Email: salesadmin@ncs-ltd.com