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Unlock efficiency and sustainability with digital printing

This presents serious challenges such as resource depletion. In response, society is shifting toward a recycling-oriented model.

At the same time consumer expectations have shifted dramatically. Consumers are increasingly favouring products with a less environmental impact and expecting greater environmental accountability from manufacturers.

Brands are being held accountable not only for the quality of their products but also for their environmental footprint. Print businesses are no exception. There’s an increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices. There is demand for more responsible production methods that reduce waste, conserve resources, and cut emissions.

For printing businesses, placing environmental management at the heart of their operations is no longer optional - it’s essential for long-term growth and relevance.

Digital printing technology to reduce ecological impact while optimizing business efficiency.

Digital printing for responsible production

It delivers offset-quality print with remarkable colour stability and media versatility - including plastics and other challenging substrates. Its advanced automation and simple operation allow businesses to:

  • Expand their product offerings.
  • Reduce dependency on scarce skilled labour.
  • Minimize downtime and maintenance.

Traditional offset printing requires lengthy and complex setup processes. From plate making to colour calibration these task are consuming time and require skilled labour and a significant amount of resources (including water and paper waste).

Digital printing revolutionizes this process with plate-free, on-demand printing. Setup is streamlined and largely automated, which results in:

  • Significant reduction in make-ready time.
  • Lower paper waste during test prints.
  • Minimized reliance on highly skilled operators.

What is needed is printed when it is needed with reduced idle time and improved turnaround speed.

Powerful energy savings

Compared to UV offset printing methods (both LED and metal halide types), digital production consumes far less power for equivalent output.

And, since it does not use printing plates, or generate large amounts of wasted papers during colour matching, as in offset printing, it is possible to greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions using its digital print system.

This translates to a substantial drop in CO₂ emissions per 1,000 double-sided prints. This is an important metric for companies aiming to meet ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) targets.

Cleaner, safer, and sustainable

Digital production isn’t just more efficient - it is less impactful.

As printing plates are not used, no polluted water is generated during the print run while using VOC-free UV ink eliminates exposure to harmful compounds like benzene, toluene, and xylene. These improvements help businesses foster a safer workplace while aligning with global air quality standards and reducing the impact of photochemical smog and fine particulate pollution.

Konica Minolta anticipated this shift toward responsible production and operation as early as 2009 with its Eco Vision 2050, setting goals such as achieving 100% renewable electricity. This approach has helped it be named a world-wide leader for sustainability programs and services hardcopy by IDC.

In 2023, we pushed the goal further and achieved net zero emissions of 64% across Scope 1, 2, and 3. These aren't just numbers. They represent real, measurable progress toward sustainability.

We also made it our vision to reduce the amount of earth’s resources used by Konica Minolta to near zero by 2050. We worked towards reducing our use of resources and, where possible, shifting towards using circulated resources. As a global company, employing over 35,000 people, we believe we have a responsibility to significantly minimise our ecological footprint.

We also support our customers and suppliers in achieving their own environmental goals by sharing our know-how and technology with them.

Adopting print initiative

As part of that, and among Konica Minolta’s most innovative solutions, is the AccurioJet series a digital inkjet press that is transforming how printing companies approach production - not just in quality and speed, but in setup time, energy savings, and sustainable output.

The AccurioJet series’ use of Konica Minolta’s original HS-UV ink ensures compliance with France’s mineral oil regulations and supports paper recycling, passing deinking tests by INGEDE. This enables the production of recyclable print materials, including those suitable for food packaging — a growing concern in circular economy initiatives.

With the AccurioJet series, users can enjoy higher resolution and even more substrate compatibility, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital print without compromising the environment.

Recognized Leader in Responsible Printing

Konica Minolta’s commitment to sustainability has earned it three-star certification under Japan’s JFPI Green Printing standard for the AccurioJet KM-1e and KM-1e HD - the highest rating available.

The AccurioJet KM-1e has been tested by INGEDE (International Association of the Deinking Industry) and the deinking properties of several paper types printed within the KM-1e system have been passed as fit to be allowed into the paper recycling process. This contributes to the sustainable use of forest resources. It also reduces the amount of disposed paper and generally contributes to waste reduction. To further assist recycling the HS ink for AccurioJet KM-1e does not intentionally contain MOAH or MOSH*1 at levels exceeding the French Mineral Oil regulation*2. This limits and restricts the level of mineral oils derived from petroleum contained in inks and printed matter.

Smart Printing for a Sustainable Future

The Konica Minolta AccurioJet series is more than a high-performance digital press. By reducing setup times, conserving energy, eliminating hazardous emissions, and supporting a circular economy, it helps print businesses meet today’s demands while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.

Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, cut operational costs, or simply run a smarter, cleaner print operation, the AccurioJet series delivers on all fronts - helping you print responsibly without sacrificing performance. Talk to us to learn more.

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