Green Team Feature: LaserCycle
In 1992, LaserCycle began selling remanufactured toner cartridges as a way to help businesses reduce their office printing costs and its associated impact on our environment. Their feature product, grenk™, is designed to leave the smallest environmental footprint possible. Boxes are made from the highest available content of recycled material and are chain-of-custody certified. Storage bags are made from a new oxygen-degradable polyethylene film that begins degrading in months instead of hundreds of years like standard bags. The cartridges are test-printed, and those test sheets are shredded and reused to fill the storage bags. Air pillows not only protect our cartridges, they reduce the amount of plastic we use. An ARS label is included in each box for FREE shipping back to the manufacturer. All components that aren't reusable are placed into a best-practices recycling stream. Nothing is thrown away. Through tracking software, business customers can receive a monthly report of the exact amount of cartridge waste kept from the landfill.
Not only does LaserCycle operate a green business, but they infuse sustainability into every part of their daily practices. Their office Green Team has implemented the following environmental practices:
• Use of filtered vs. bottled water within the workplace.
• Converting to energy efficient lighting
• Paper recycling
• Resale of locally produced products whenever possible to lower fuel consumption
• Partnership for the environmental disposal of office equipment and workplace electronics
• Consultation on migrating print fleets to more efficient “Energy Star” models
• Use of electronic vs. print newsletters and communications
• Recycling containers throughout the facility for paper, plastics and metals
• Customer pick-up and collection sites for the recapture of used printer cartridges for remanufacturing
• Promotion of “Print Less” internal campaign
LaserCycle’s commitment to the environment has been recognized by the EPA’s WasteWise program, a voluntary program that encourages an environmental footprint reduction from member companies. To achieve partner status, a company must show a reduction in their footprint utilizing innovative processes and well-managed materials management practices. They were also honored with Johnson County’s “Emerald Green Business Award” in 2011. LaserCycle, along with the other nine recipients, diverted a combined total of 1,227 tons of waste from landfills to recycling and composting. As an award winner, they had to show achievements in categories of waste reduction, reuse and recycling, outreach and education and policies.
For more information, please call Josh Trask at 913-742-0635 or email at jtrask@lasercycle.com.
