Lexmark launches NZ recycling program

Lexmark launches NZ recycling program

Tue, 25 Jan 2005

Lexmark has announced a new environment initiative in New Zealand which aims to recycle more than 20 per cent of toner cartridges sold, turning them into a range of goods such as recycled plastic park benches, building materials and office stationary.

IAG New Zealand is the first participant to sign up and enjoy an upfront discount in exchange for their agreement to return the cartridge to Lexmark for remanufacturing or recycling, and help keep tens of thousands of cartridges out of New Zealand landfills.

For further information, or to speak to Lexmark or IAG regarding this program, please contact Jessica Sealby or Guy Downes at Howorth Communications on +61 2 8281 3810 or pr@howorth.com.au

Lexmark launches NZ recycling programme
- IAG NZ to sign up as first programme participant -
- Businesses targeted in toner cartridge drive -

AUCKLAND, January 25, 2005 - Lexmark aims to recycle more than 20 per cent of all its toner cartridges sold in New Zealand this year as part of a new environmental initiative launched today. The recycling initiative is already underway with IAG New Zealand Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australasia's largest general insurer, to sign up as the first enterprise participant.

As part of the programme, New Zealand businesses such as IAG NZ - which trades under the State and NZI brands -- will be offered an upfront discount in exchange for their agreement to return the cartridge to Lexmark for remanufacturing or recycling. Lexmark will collect the used cartridges from the participating businesses at no charge.

The collected cartridges will be turned into a range of goods such as recycled plastic park benches, building materials and office stationery, or remanufactured or reused by Lexmark.

Henrik Stensfeldt, Managing Director, Lexmark Australia and New Zealand, said the Lexmark programme was an important one.

"Lexmark's goal is to provide printing solutions that are the best in the world for our customers and the environment. This initiative will help keep tens of thousands of cartridges out of New Zealand landfills," Stensfeldt said.

"The programme allows us to account for every toner cartridge used by our participating business customers. This means no cartridges are inadvertently thrown away. Those that cannot be reused are broken down and every component is recycled."

All of Lexmark's business customers in New Zealand will be invited to participate in the programme. It follows other recent initiatives undertaken by Lexmark throughout the world.

Anthea Ogilvie, Sustainability Consultant, IAG NZ, said, "With more than 50 State and NZI branch and office locations around the country we can find it difficult to keep track of all the print consumables we have on the go. Having a guaranteed tracking process, such as that provided by Lexmark, assists us to meet our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our everyday business processes."

Stensfeldt said Lexmark is also offering businesses solutions designed to reduce the amount of paper they use.

"Sometimes businesses do not fully realise the true cost of waste - both to the environment and the bottom line. The hidden costs of waste have been calculated at between five and 20 times higher than most businesses realise," Stensfeldt said.

"Lexmark is designing output solutions that actually help New Zealand organisations print less. By realigning their output environment, Lexmark can help organisations reduce waste and spend considerably less on paper and other supplies."

A solution designed for Lexmark's own headquarters in the United States kept 1 million kilograms of scrap metal and 195,000 kilograms of plastic out of landfill during last year alone.

To find out more about the Lexmark Environmental Programme - and the company's commitment to protecting the Earth's natural resources - visit http://environment.lexmark.com . More information on Lexmark's global collection and recycling programs can be found at http://www.lexmark.com/recycle .

ENDS

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