News

Océ UK has committed to offsetting 200% of the CO2 created by each of its VarioPrint 6000 machines sold until at least November 2008, as part of new carbon offsetting scheme it launched at Digital Print World on Tuesday (16 October).

The scheme will operate initially across the VarioPrint 6000 systems, with the CO2 emissions calculated during the period offset using three international schemes.

These focus on renewable energy in China, methane capture in Germany and tree-planting initiatives the UK.

In addition, Océ is offering customers the opportunity to take up an environmental stewardship scheme. The company will pay for two days' consultancy as part of the stewardship appraisal, intended to help its customers improve environmental performance.

The scheme is part of Océ's plans to strengthen its environmental credentials with a new long-term alliance with Lincoln-based Shining Earth, part of environmental consultant Delta-Simons.

Océ UK Digital Document Systems marketing manager Ed Hudson said: "When we develop our technology, we always take the environment into account. Buyers in the graphic arts industry are very aware of the green issues and do invest in our technology on the basis that it is environmentally friendly.

"We are convinced that Carbon Positive Plus+ is the first of its kind in the world. It's a serious piece of work and will have far-reaching benefits for our customers and the environment."

Delta-Simons managing director Gareth Pickles said: "We've gone far beyond the basics and obtained detailed measurements of energy consumption from the machine over many functions and selected offset schemes that we think provide a good balance of environmental benefit."