Pro Recyclingpapier initiative: five years since Océ joined up

Venlo, the Netherlands, 3 August 2006—Launched in 2000, the Pro Recyclingpapier initiative is committed to getting more people to buy into the idea of recycled paper. It's now five years since Océ, a manufacturer of office and production printing systems and copiers, signed on to the initiative to encourage use of resource-friendly paper in the professional and business segments.

Recycling paper reduces consumption of primary resources, energy and water and gives users an opportunity to cut their costs. What's more, modern recycling paper made of recovered stock is a whole lot better than its traditional reputation, with its look & feel and processing properties in many cases barely distinguishable from standard new paper. The majority of consumers positively welcome the idea of recycled paper being used for information material, and enterprises following the trend will benefit from enhanced standing. Companies that choose recycling paper are perceived as environmentally aware and cost conscious. Accordingly, the initiative—in which Océ is partnered by proven-pedigree companies from the industrial, services and retail sectors of the economy—expects a rising global demand for high quality recycling paper.
 
The cross-sector initiative keeps recycling paper firmly on the media news agendas and conducts information campaigns for industry users and the general public. With activities backed by scientific studies, Pro Recyclingpapier also helps companies navigate the transition to environmentally aware paper alternatives. The initiative is presented on the Internet at www.papiernetz.de, with a general summary in English.
 
Christoph Fleischmann, head of the Commercial Printing business group at Océ Printing Systems in Poing, near Munich, explains Océ's connection with the initiative: "Customers who use appropriate recycling paper on Océ systems reduce their costs and do something for the environment at the same time. Our commitment to the initiative is totally in alignment with Océ's general sustainability strategy."
 
There are paper specifications and recommendation lists for all Océ printing systems—whether cutsheet or continuous forms. In particular, the high volume printers of the Océ VarioPrint 5000 and Océ VarioStream 6000, 7000 and 9000 series process numerous types of recycling paper with ease, enabling Océ to offer suitable all-in solutions to customers who wish to increase their recycling paper quotas or move a major portion of print volume to recycling paper. 

A prejudice dispelled

The preconceived idea is that recycling paper puts the machines under unwarranted stress and increases wear and tear. This notion is dispelled by empiric long-term studies commissioned by the Pro Recyclingpapier initiative: copiers and printers running with recycling paper are shown to have just as long a service life as machines processing only paper made from fresh fibres. Nor is there any increase in service calls or maintenance costs with alternative substrates. Modern recycling paper has properties that make for smooth operation: good runability and printability, little dusting, good long-term archivability, and erasure resistance. And paper made of recovered paper is often a lot whiter than people would commonly expect—its environmental record is certainly as white as snow! 

For further information, please contact:

Nick Gale
Manager Media Relations
Océ Technologies
Tel.: +31.77.359.5628
Email: nick.gale@oce.com