A survey has revealed that a lot of consumers have a guilty conscience about their carbon footprint when using their home and office equipment.
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It has also been revealed that women are more knowledgeable and guilt-ridden about their green practices than men.
The report says that 91 percent would rather fix a technology device under warranty than dispose of it; 85 percent would often choose the most environmentally-conscious printing option if given a “one-click” or “one-push” solution; 84 percent are more likely to buy a product if the manufacturer shows more responsibility and concern regarding recycling; and 75 percent feel guilty about printing unnecessary pages;
Unfortunately, 64 percent incorrectly think that the disposal of ink cartridges is the largest cause of pollution from printing.
In addition, women are more likely than men to be generally concerned about the environment and the impact from their activities, as well as more likely to correctly name the potential threats from extraneous printing on the environment. Women are also more likely to buy from a technology manufacturer that recycles.
For example, 71 percent of women claimed that they feel guilty when disposing of a device rather than repairing it, compared to only 63 percent of men. Women also appear to be more aware of paper waste, with 79 percent feeling guilty when printing unnecessary pages versus 71 percent of men.
Australians claim a strong preference for manufacturers that demonstrate good recycling practices. Australians are vocal when it comes to expressing guilt about pollution from their printing practices, but are generally less informed than other international respondents. Australian consumers still think that the biggest environmental threat raised by printing is the disposal of ink / toner cartridges.
Lexmark’s Director, Sustainable Technology and Operations, Tonya Jackson said, “This survey clearly shows that people worldwide need more education and guidance on printing best practices – and Lexmark is committed to providing that information. Lexmark recognised years ago that it is our corporate responsibility to understand and minimise the environmental impact of our products, while improving their efficiency. We do this at every stage of our printers’ life cycle and in every corner of our operations.”