With sustainability issues continuing to become more important for businesses of all sizes, practices such as printer refurbishment are gaining in popularity. To this end, Ricoh has formed a partnership with Agilico to refurbish and resell used devices.
The recent COP29 summit in Azerbaijan has put environmental issues back to the top of the news agenda. But while nations are thrashing out how they can help reduce CO2 emissions and try to stem the march of climate change, there are many businesses at a smaller level trying to become more sustainable – and there are an increasing number of programmes available to help with this.
One practice that is gaining in popularity is device refurbishment. Many office devices, including printers, are dispensed with, or upgraded, before they have reached the end of their useful life – indeed, some have used less than 10% of their capacity and have plenty of life left in them.
To this end, Ricoh has partnered with Agilico, a business that specialises in providing digital solutions and services, particularly in document management, print management and office technology, to refurbish and resell used devices, including printers.
Rowan Jeffreys-Hoar, director, partner channel at Ricoh UK, says there a growing demand from customers for refurbished options for printers and other devices. “This solution was created to fulfil the increasing customer desire for market-leading printing technology while also supporting the Agilico Zero mission by extending the lifecycle of our technology,” he says.
One big problem currently is that 70% of end-of-life devices in the UK are exported, increasing carbon emissions, explains Warren Colby, managing director of the Agile Print Division at Agilico Workplace Technology. “By refurbishing and harvesting usable parts and recycling what can’t be reused through our accredited partners, we minimise electronic waste going to landfill and extend the life of devices, supporting environmental goals and cost-effective solutions,” he says.
Meticulous process
Rowan explains the refurbishment process that Ricoh and Agilico have in place. “Refurbishment is a meticulous process that we take great pride in,” he says. “It all starts with our dedicated team, which gathers used devices and puts them through a rigorous inspection and testing phase. We make a point to use only genuine parts for any repairs needed because we’re committed to nothing but top quality. Then, the devices get a thorough cleaning, and we update them with the latest software.
“Before we even think about re-releasing them to the market, they’re tested all over again. Because, at the end of the day, we’re all about providing the customers with dependable and sustainable options they can always count on.”
Warren adds: “Across our nationwide network of refurbishment centres, our expert engineers are at the core of refurbishing our Agilico Zero range of MFDs. With decades of experience, they transform lightly used machines into ‘as new’ devices.
“The process involves a detailed inspection of more than 30 key components, sanitising all hard drive data, replacing worn parts, and rigorously testing every function. After a final quality check, the device is ready for an ‘as new’ life, with zero compromise in quality or reliability.”
Refurbishment vs remanufacturing
There are differences between refurbishment and remanufacturing, and these are important to note. “A refurbished printer is a lightly used device restored to ‘as new’ condition,” explains Rowan. “This involves a full breakdown of the device, replacement of components where necessary, software updates, and thorough testing.
“It provides the same performance as a new printer but at a lower environmental and financial cost. A remanufactured printer is typically a refurbishment by the manufacturer, which may use a mix of recycled and new parts.”
Achieving sustainability goals
Sustainability is key in the thinking for this programme, and, as Rowan explains, the programme could save a significant amount of CO2. “Through the Agilico Zero programme, at least 500kg of CO2 emissions are avoided for each refurbished device; this is achieved by extending its life and reducing the need for new manufacturing,” he says. “In addition, we avoid the environmental impact of transporting devices overseas, which also helps reduce carbon emissions.
“But CO2 savings are just one part of the picture. E-waste (WEEE) is the fastest growing waste stream globally, and through this programme we can significantly reduce the amount of WEEE entering landfill.
“At Ricoh, we have robust processes and partnerships in place to ensure that none of our products or packaging enter landfills. In fact, our UK operations are ‘zero to waste landfill’ and we’re very proud of that.”
Using refurbished devices can help end users to achieve their sustainability and ESG goals too. “Refurbished devices provide the opportunity for a ‘new lease of life’ and significantly reduce the amount of waste,” says Rowan. “They lessen the need and supply of brand new devices, consequently lowering the requirement for natural and manufactured resources like metal, glass, plastics and earth minerals, as well as additional packaging. All this positive environmental impact can be achieved without compromising on reliability of this technology, and customers often comment on how seamless the process is.”
Warren adds that choosing refurbished devices helps businesses lower their carbon footprint and avoid unnecessary waste. “Agilico Zero offers a sustainable and lower-cost alternative for businesses to support the circular economy,” he says.
While Warren appreciates that this approach requires a shift in mindset, he is confident that the arguments for it outweigh perceived barriers. “We understand the challenge of shifting traditional approaches, but the environmental benefits, combined with the ability to extend the life of lightly used devices, make it the right decision for clients and suppliers alike,” he says.
Agilico itself is practicing what it preaches, and the business has targets to become net zero by 2030. “We are leading with our Agilico Zero product range, offering sustainable solutions that extend the life of lightly used devices and avoid at least 500kg of carbon per unit,” he says.
“While the shift comes with challenges, we approach them with an agile and innovative mindset. In addition to refurbishing devices, we generate power through solar panels and have transitioned almost 100% of our car fleet to electric or hybrid vehicles. This, along with reducing energy consumption and promoting the circular economy, ensures we continue to make positive environmental impacts that are rewarding for employees and clients.”
Long-term partnership
Ricoh and Agilico’s partnership is nothing new. Rowan says that the partnership between the companies was formed more than two decades ago. “It is based on a shared desire to prioritise and support our customers’ needs and ESG commitments,” he adds.
“We work together beyond the traditional supplier/vendor setup – it is a true partnership with Ricoh playing a role beyond simply supplying Agilico with technology. I am delighted that we’re able to help Agilico achieve their ambitious net zero goals through this project.”
Making an impact
Rowan has high hopes for the programme and the impact it can make. “Through the Agilico Zero programme, we hope to give thousands of multifunctional devices a new lease of life,” he says. “By extending the life of these barely used machines, we aim to significantly reduce electronic waste and contribute to a truly circular economy – one of the key pillars of our ESG strategy.”
“Our objective to reduce our environmental impact (CO²e) to net-zero GHG by 2050 includes the entire life-cycle scope of all Ricoh products and services, so the ‘upstream’ (supplier-related) and ‘downstream’ (end-user-related) aspects are fundamental areas of impact and influence.”
Through this partnership and many more, Ricoh finds ways to collaborate with its partners to help across their net zero journeys. As a leader in the workplace technology sector, it recognises the impact its activities have on the environment.
Increasing popularity
While device refurbishment has been an option for some years, as mentioned its popularity has really begun to grow in recent years as more businesses become aware of the need to increase their sustainability. As environmental concerns continue to grow, then the popularity of refurbishment should do too in the coming years.
“As businesses face growing environmental and economic challenges, device refurbishment will be crucial,” says Warren. “At Agilico, we’ve embraced this shift, recognising that extending the life of barely used devices is the right thing to do.
“The narrative and reasoning for change are essential as more companies adopt sustainability practices. Refurbishment not only helps reduce electronic waste and carbon emissions but also provides opportunities to adapt and innovate, making it a key element in future business strategies.”
