ARMOR Print Solutions signs up for ETIRA certification

July 13, 2022

ARMOR Print Solutions will use the label certification from the European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) that showcases remanufactured products with a “superior environmental performance”.

A subsidiary of the ARMOR Group, APS employs 600 across Europe and focuses on remanufacturing and distribution of printing consumables, solutions and software to simplify and optimise printing fleets and workflows and development and distribution of semi-industrial inks.

The company’s circular economy brand, OWA (Our Way to Act), aims to promote environmental benefits of the aftermarket industry in Europe.

ETIRA’s label certification differentiates between remanufactured OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) cartridges from new OEM and non-OEM newbuilds. It raises the profile of remanufactured products produced by ETIRA members, including APS, which offer a very good environmental performance.

Gerwald van der Gijp, CEO of ARMOR Print Solutions, said: “For us, the stickers and ETIRA certification is real proof of our engagement and commitment to respect the European environmental regulation and quality standards. It certifies that we remanufacture high quality products that are safe for the health of our customers.

“It will provide transparency to distributors, resellers and users of what is real and what is often fake. It will help customers to clearly identify good cartridges versus cheap and dangerous ones.

“We would definitely encourage other ETIRA members to display the certification. The more we inform our consumers about what we do well – and about the importance of reuse – the more people will be able to highlight those who do not respect the European regulation.

“We think it is important to defend the after-market, as it is a model for the future and an opportunity that has been ignored by the OEMs who are not positioning themselves on the reuse of their waste. It is important to make the general public understand there are economical alternatives that also have less environmental impact.

“Like many other industries, we are at a crossroads. It’s the time to create one voice, make clear choices and act as a united European industry.”

Javier Martinez, president of ETIRA, said: “We are thrilled ARMOR Print Solutions have signed up to display the ETIRA certification on their products. The philosophy of APS closely aligns with our own: to reduce the number of cartridges in landfill and promote remanufacturing and make a positive contribution to the circular economy.

“In Europe, 70% of cartridges are thrown away after use. Remanufacturing cartridges for re-use can reduce their carbon footprint by up to up to 45-60%. Every cartridge that is remanufactured is one fewer going directly to landfill.

“The certification label helps customers make the environmentally-responsible decision when it comes to buying printing cartridges.”