Did you know that when you poured milk onto your cereal and discarded the empty plastic bottle in the recycling bin this morning, it could mean you are a vital part of our circular economy? There is a chance that the materials could be recycled and turned into a toner bottle that will go on to have a long life. Konica Minolta produces toner bottles containing up to 60% recycled HDPE which comes from empty milk bottles.
Today is Global Recycling Day and this annual event serves as an important reminder that even the smallest choices we make can collectively have a big impact on the world we live in today, and the state in which we leave it for future generations.
At Konica Minolta we have committed to ensuring our products are manufactured using more than 90% recycled materials and biomaterials by 2050. This year also marks the 20th year of our consumable recycling programme “World on Loan”
At the end of last year, we announced some important enhancements to our World on Loan consumable recycling programme, which helps us, our customers and partners to avoid waste to landfill and meet ambitious sustainability goals.
The new-look, and free to use, World on Loan programme makes it easy for organisations to submit a request for the collection of genuine used Konica Minolta consumables including toner cartridges, bottles and drums, via an online portal. Once collected, these products will be expertly processed using environmentally conscious methods that prioritise recycling and minimise ecological impact. No waste is sent to landfill, and materials are repurposed into high-quality polymers and other reusable resources.
We are also proud that the name of our programme was conceived by a former member of the Konica Minolta team, Roger Rhind, when in 2006 he penned this poem that remains as relevant as ever, 20 years on…
A World on Loan
The air that we breathe is recycled,
by the oxygenating trees.
The water we use, is recycled,
by the clouds and a warm sea breeze.
The natural way of nature,
Is to recycle that which is used.
We believe we should follow that example,
precious resources, should not be abused.
The waste we produce, we must Reduce,
we must Recycle and Reuse.
We are guardians of a world on loan. This battle we cannot lose.