As businesses increasingly look to become more sustainable and engage with the circular economy, remanufactured products such as printers are now becoming more popular – and resellers should be getting involved with this market.
With sustainability becoming an increasing priority for many businesses, they are seeking different ways to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as engage with the circular economy. One option that is gaining traction in the market currently is for remanufactured devices, including printers.
Richard Wells, head of market development at Epson Europe, says demand for refurbished and remanufactured printers is growing. “This is driven by customers’ increasing focus on sustainability, value and circular economy principles,” he says. “Epson’s own programmes, such as the availability of refurbished printers through authorised channels, reflect sustained customer interest — particularly in education, public sector, and cost conscious business environments where lifecycle value matters as much as upfront price.
“This trend aligns with a broader industry shift towards extending product life and reducing waste, as organisations look to balance environmental targets with financial pressures. Epson’s Environmental Vision 2050 goal is an example, which emphasises extending product life and reducing waste as part of wider sustainability goals.”
Craig McCubbin, managing director at Brother Industries UK, agrees that demand for remanufactured products – consumables and devices – continues to rise. “This is particularly as vendors invest in and develop new technology to make the process more accessible,” he says.
“European markets seem to be further ahead than the UK in adopting remanufactured devices. In France, we know that public sector tenders are clear in specifying remanufactured printers – it won’t be long until this extends to the UK, which we’re already ramping up capability for and where demand for remanufactured consumables is strong.”
Environmental benefits
There are various benefits to using remanufacturered printers, and not just envrionmental ones.
“Remanufactured Epson printers are professionally inspected, restored and tested, offering customers reliable performance at a lower cost while maintaining warranty cover and manufacturer assurance,” says Richard. “From a practical standpoint, they allow organisations to access proven technologies without compromising on quality or support.
“Remanufactured printers contribute to waste reduction, lower raw material use, and reduced carbon impact, by keeping products in circulation for longer rather than replacing them prematurely. This supports Epson’s “reduce, reuse and recycle” approach and helps customers meet sustainability and CSR objectives.”
Craig adds that, in 2024, Brother launched inkjet cartridge remanufacturing operations. “We remain the only vendor to remanufacture cartridges as well as toners, which we’ve supported since 2004,” he says. “We’re already expecting the ink line to be fully operational in the next few months, remanufacturing one million cartridges a year.
“Vendors like us invest in remanufacturing because the benefits are significant and more and more customers recognise that. Remanufacturing extends the life of existing materials, reducing reliance on virgin resources while cutting emissions – with remanufactured cartridges, for example, producing around a third less CO2 than new ones when comparing the full life of the product. It also helps divert waste from landfill and supports circular economy principles, without compromising on quality or performance.”
Getting involved
With the popularity of remanufactured printers growing, it is a market that print resellers need to consider getting involved with if they aren’t already.
To get involved, Richard recommends that resellers should ideally work directly with an OEM or authorised refurbishment programme. “This ensures quality control, access to genuine parts, firmware updates and warranty protection,” he explains. “Epson supports this model through approved refurbished product offerings and partner led schemes in markets such as education and public sector procurement.
“Alternative approaches — such as independent refurbishment — exist, but partnering with the OEM helps resellers mitigate risk, protect brand trust and ensure devices meet current security, safety and regulatory standards.”
Reseller conversations
For resellers that are involved already, in conversations with customers, they should be careful in how they position remanufactured printers. “Resellers should position remanufactured printers as a smart, sustainable choice rather than a compromise,” says Richard. “It’s important to communicate that professionally refurbished devices are rigorously tested and backed by manufacturer support.
“Cost savings should be framed alongside environmental impact reduction and lifecycle value, not just lower price. The typical lifecycle for printers has increased due to a decreasing volume of pages being printed. Therefore, there is a clear opportunity to keep equipment in use for longer either by extending its life with the original customer or redeploying it following refurbishment.
“There are still misconceptions in the market that refurbished means ‘older’ or ‘less reliable’. Education is key: with the right messaging and assurances, resellers can demonstrate that remanufactured devices are a credible and responsible choice for modern workplaces.”
Craig adds that customers are demanding that remanufactured products are included in certain tenders. “So resellers that are partnering with vendors they can trust to support that and meet customers’ needs are at an advantage,” he says. “In particular, managed print services are becoming an essential tool here, ensuring free returns for consumables to be remanufactured and reporting on CO2 savings positively contribute to firms’ circular economy commitments.
“But there’s still an important education conversation that print partners can have to address misconceptions, particularly around quality. Remanufactured products are exactly the same high standards as new ones, and customers wouldn’t be able to tell a ‘new’ consumable or device and a remanufactured one apart. This is a conversation that needs to be as part of a broader mindset shift to move from recycling to re-use – an essential step if the UK is to meet its net-zero targets.”
Increasing demand
With sustainability expected to become more of a corporate priority, it is anticipated that demand for remanufactured printers will continue to grow in the next 12-18 months.
“We know that businesses are juggling a number of priorities, but sustainability is going to remain on the agenda and resurge in importance, as they accommodate staff expectations and national legislation,” says Craig. “As the only process that makes a meaningful impact in lowering carbon emissions, remanufacturing will be core to the print sector’s circular initiatives.
“Our role, from our remanufacturing base in Ruabon, North Wales, is to help partners have better conversations with customers about their print lifecycle and make it as easy as possible for them to adopt a more forward-thinking approach.”
Richard adds that Epson expects demand to continue growing, particularly as organisations face budget pressure, sustainability targets and regulatory scrutiny around waste and emissions. “Public sector and education customers are likely to remain strong drivers, but commercial businesses are increasingly exploring refurbished options as part of broader ESG strategies,” he says.
“As circular economy thinking becomes more embedded and OEM-backed refurbishment programmes mature, remanufactured printers are likely to move from a niche option to a mainstream consideration in procurement decisions over the next year and beyond.”
