Study: Over Half of Inkjet Printer Ink is Thrown Away

[Ablang]

Study: Over Half of Inkjet Printer Ink is Thrown Away
As much as 60 percent of the ink in inkjet cartridges is wasted when
printers ask users to throw away half-full cartridges.
Rosemary Haworth, PC Advisor
Friday, June 15, 2007 1:00 PM PDT

As much as 60 percent of the ink contained in a typical inkjet
cartridge is wasted, when printers ask users to throw away half-full
cartridges, according to research commissioned by Epson.

The printer company commissioned research laboratory TUV Rheinland to
measure how much ink is used up and how much remains in an inkjet
cartridge when the printer claims it's out of ink. The study revealed
vast amounts of wastage: no matter which printer you choose, around
half the ink you pay for goes unused. On average, inkjet printers
provide an ink efficiency of just 58 percent when used for photo
printing purposes and 47 percent when used for printing business
documents such as presentations.

Research company TUV Rheinland performed comparative tests on eight
different printers from well-known brands such as HP, Canon, Brother,
Lexmark, Epson and Kodak. The Kodak EasyShare model that was included
in the test proved to have an ink efficiency level of just 40 percent.
By contrast, models made by Epson and one HP inkjet, were shown to
have efficiency levels of around 80 percent.

The printers that scored particularly poorly were multi-ink cartridge
models. This category included printers in which colors are supplied
in a single unit of cyan, magenta and yellow as well as six-color
printers that have a five-color ink cartridge. The printers each
printed as many sample pages as possible until one of the colors was
exhausted. The residual amount of ink that was unused was then
recorded.

TUV Rheinland's Hartmut Mueller-Gerbes explained that tests were
carried out separately for photo printing and for business printing.
The sample photo prints used were chosen at random by a focus group
while a typical PowerPoint presentation was used as the sample
document for the business-focused efficiency test.

Here, explained Mueller-Gerbes, one color tends to dominate as a
presentation will have a particular color theme "such as the light
magenta used in our example or the light cyan used in my
presentation." Because of this, business printing tends to drain one
color faster than any other and the printer alerts the user that
replenishment ink is needed.

Epson commissioned the tests to measure the environmental impact of
ink waste and to back up its assertion that it's less wasteful -- as
well as cheaper -- to use a printer that has individual color tanks.
Epson sells inkjet printers only that have separate ink cartridges for
each color. This means that when one color runs out, the consumer can
replace a single cartridge, rather than having to replace all the
colors when only one has been used up, as is the case with multi-ink
cartridges.

The weight of the inkjet cartridges was taken before and after the
tests to ascertain how much ink was in it. They also compared with the
weight of an empty cartridge to arrive at a figure for the ink on its
own. The cartridges were chemically cleaned to ensure the weight of
the cartridge alone was factored in.

However, as conference attendees were quick to point out, the tests
Epson commissioned did not measure the cost to the consumer, the
number of pages each printer was able to produce before running out of
color and did not factor in the amount of ink used up by the cleaning
cycle that printers routinely perform. This last factor is something
industry experts believe accounts for a significant amount of ink
waste.

 

[measekite]

Study: Over Half of Inkjet Printer Ink is Thrown Away
As much as 60 percent of the ink in inkjet cartridges is wasted when
printers ask users to throw away half-full cartridges.
Rosemary Haworth, PC Advisor
Friday, June 15, 2007 1:00 PM PDT

That does not relate to the Canon IP4000. When it says to toss it the
cart is empty.

As much as 60 percent of the ink contained in a typical inkjet
cartridge is wasted, when printers ask users to throw away half-full
cartridges, according to research commissioned by Epson.

The printer company commissioned research laboratory TUV Rheinland to
measure how much ink is used up and how much remains in an inkjet
cartridge when the printer claims it's out of ink. The study revealed
vast amounts of wastage: no matter which printer you choose, False
around
half the ink you pay for goes unused. On average, inkjet printers
provide an ink efficiency of just 58 percent when used for photo
printing purposes and 47 percent when used for printing business
documents such as presentations.

Research company TUV Rheinland performed comparative tests on eight
different printers from well-known brands such as HP, Canon, Brother,
Lexmark, Epson and Kodak.

I think the research is faulty

 

[Jan Alter]

Here's the site from which the article was obtained. For myself, when I read
stuff like this I prefer some site reference for verification.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,132969-pg,1/article.html

I don't doubt at all the waste of ink and plastic. Inkjet technology has
a way to go to make ink usage more efficient. The cleaning cycles alone used
to clear a blocked jet sometimes can use most of the ink of a cartridge. In
some instances there is still no satisfaction at all to get the jets running
clear. That design factor alone is cause for concern of efficiency.
If Epson or any other company were truly concerned about this they could
make a huge impact to the situation right now by promoting the environment
and energy and resource consciousness. If they wanted to they could
redesign their cartridges, getting rid of the chips and promote the idea of
refilling by making a refillable cartridge design and by selling bulk ink.
Too bad they're greedier than moral.

 

[Taliesyn]

Study: Over Half of Inkjet Printer Ink is Thrown Away
As much as 60 percent of the ink in inkjet cartridges is wasted when
printers ask users to throw away half-full cartridges.
Rosemary Haworth, PC Advisor
Friday, June 15, 2007 1:00 PM PDT

As much as 60 percent of the ink contained in a typical inkjet
cartridge is wasted, when printers ask users to throw away half-full
cartridges, according to research commissioned by Epson.

This only applies to people who buy new cartridges, any brand, as there
is still considerable ink left in the cartridge (in the sponge) when you
toss it out. Not only do you throw out good ink, you throw out good
money as well. A new cartridge typically goes for $20 + 14% taxes in
Canada. Now multiply that by 5 and you just blew $100 that your kids
will empty in 5 minutes printing every character from High School
Musical 1. And High School Musical 2 comes out in August!

For anyone who refills there there is NO WASTE until one decides to
finally throw away the cartridge. But that sad moment won't come until
one has enjoyed anywhere from 8 to 15 (or more) good refills with zero
waste saving you up to $1000 over a 10 refill life span of a set of
cartridges. (Canadian dollars)

-Taliesyn

 

[Frank]

That does not relate to the Canon IP4000. When it says to toss it the
cart is empty.

No, there is still some ink left in the cart. You're a fool to believe
otherwise.

True.




I think the research is faulty

You have a real problem with the truth. Too bad, that's a mental problem
for you.
The research is valid.
Frank

 

[measekite]

None of this is true. The sponge is virtually dry and the tank is empty
with Canon BCI6.

This only applies to people who buy new cartridges, any brand, as there
is still considerable ink left in the cartridge (in the sponge) when
you toss it out. Not only do you throw out good ink, you throw out good
money as well. A new cartridge typically goes for $20 + 14% taxes in
Canada. Now multiply that by 5 and you just blew $100 that your kids
will empty in 5 minutes printing every character from High School
Musical 1. And High School Musical 2 comes out in August!

He is a high school kid so his focus is on high school.

 

[Frank]

None of this is true. The sponge is virtually dry and the tank is empty
with Canon BCI6.

You keep lying in the face of scientific truth! Did you recently escape
form the loony bin?

He is a high school kid so his focus is on high school.

hehehe...at least he got out of grade school, unlike you...hehehe...loser!
Frank

 

[Michael Johnson]

No, there is still some ink left in the cart. You're a fool to believe
otherwise.



You have a real problem with the truth. Too bad, that's a mental problem
for you.
The research is valid.

.....and "I think" I crap pixie dust worth $5,000 a gram. Still doesn't
mean I can sell it for that price.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Thanks for posting the complete article for consideration.

Looking over the methodology, I'm having some problems with the test
design and there appears to be some intentional bias that was brought
into the tests as well.

In the case of the business printing task, the testing company selected
a "light magenta or light cyan" background in each "slide" of the
powerpoint presentation. Of all colors to be used in a six color
printer, these are the ones which always are used up first, because they
are used in greater quantity, because they are light colors or pure
"ink" without white spaces, so a light magenta or cyan background will
literally be almost solid light magenta or cyan ink. These inks also
are used in many color gradients. Had they selected a light orange or
green, the amount of ink used would have been more evenly distributed
throughout the cartridge colors, and therefore more ink overall would
have been used, leaving less so-called waste ink behind.

Further, if I understand the test, they ran a series of either
photographic images or powerpoint slides until the first color ran out,
and then measured how much ink was left in the cartridges. Besides that
the balance of the types of photos that were used would have a huge
effect upon the outcome (the more balanced and ink-neutral the images
were the longer the printer would continue and use up more ink overall.
However, if every image had light blue skies and fleshtones in it, the
light cyan and light magenta inks would be most rapidly used up, and
that would leave a lot of ink behind. However, if the images included
sunset, plants, darker blues, reds, and such, the other inks would have
been used in a more balance manner. Further, the nature of the drivers,
in terms of how much of the light colors are mixed into the shading will
make quite a difference.

There is something I do not fully understand. If an Epson printer is
used with separate color cartridges, and it is run only until the first
cartridge reads empty, why would that individual color cartridge system
be any different than a 5 color cartridge? The whole supposed advantage
of the individual cartridges is that you can replace the first cartridge
out without needing to touch the others. Then again, with Epson, the
purge process on replacement of any cartridge means draining
considerable ink from all the other cartridges, and that is one place
where Epson cartridges give up a lot of ink. As also mentioned no test
were carried out in terms of how much ink is used up during cleaning
cycles, how much ink is provided per cost, and what kind of yield one
gets when printing.

IMHO, the test design this company used is flawed in many areas, and may
even provide skewed results based upon brand.

I'm not convinced we can draw a lot from this, other than many if not
all inkjet printers waste a LOT of ink.

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

This article does, however, raise a question that I was trying to get an
answer to. About a week ago I posted this, directed to Ron Baird, and I
do hope he gets to answer it if he is hanging around here.

Art

Hi Ron,

I do have a few questions regarding the new Kodak cartridges.

As I understand it, there are two cartridges. One contains the black
ink, the color ink cartridge contains 5 colors. Cyan, light cyan,
magenta, light magenta and yellow. In every inkjet printer using the
CcMmYK system, the drivers use more light or "photo" magenta and cyan up
than the other colors. Does the color cartridge contain differing
amount of ink based upon the color? In other words, is there more light
magenta and light cyan, followed by yellow, than there is cyan and magenta?

If this has not be adjusted for (the same amount of ink for each color)
then the cartridge will very likely run out of the light colors first,
at which point, whatever is left in the cartridge will be wasted.

Can you supply any insight into this matter?

Art

 

[Michael Johnson]

....and "I think" I crap pixie dust worth $5,000 a gram. Still doesn't
mean I can sell it for that price.

BTW, Frank, that directed at measekite, not you.

 

[Frank]

BTW, Frank, that directed at measekite, not you.

I figured as much.
Frank

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

Study: Over Half of Inkjet Printer Ink is Thrown Away
As much as 60 percent of the ink in inkjet cartridges is wasted when
printers ask users to throw away half-full cartridges.

More than half the soap that I use is thrown away. I've tried again and
again to smear it all over my body and put my clothing on, but it's not
comfortable and I smell like a bar of soap.

The only way that it works properly is when I rinse it all off. I tell
you it's a conspiracy between the soap makers to make you keep buying
consumables. Let's get even and make our own soap.

 

[measekite]

More than half the soap that I use is thrown away. I've tried again
and again to smear it all over my body and put my clothing on, but
it's not comfortable and I smell like a bar of soap.

The only way that it works properly is when I rinse it all off. I tell
you it's a conspiracy between the soap makers to make you keep buying
consumables. Let's get even and make our own soap.

Better you do not use any more soap.

 

[Gary Eickmeier]

There is something I do not fully understand. If an Epson printer is
used with separate color cartridges, and it is run only until the first
cartridge reads empty, why would that individual color cartridge system
be any different than a 5 color cartridge? The whole supposed advantage
of the individual cartridges is that you can replace the first cartridge
out without needing to touch the others. Then again, with Epson, the
purge process on replacement of any cartridge means draining
considerable ink from all the other cartridges, and that is one place
where Epson cartridges give up a lot of ink. As also mentioned no test
were carried out in terms of how much ink is used up during cleaning
cycles, how much ink is provided per cost, and what kind of yield one
gets when printing.

I have an Epson 260, with individual ink cartridges. I printed a couple
hundred strictly B&W labels on CDs, but all colors ran down along with
the black. I suspect that it is the cleaning cycles that it orders for
itself every time I turn it on that do most of that.

My Canon i8500 has cartidges with clear plastic, so you can see the ink
inside. Whenever I change cartidges, I can clearly see that the ink has
all run out. On my Epson, it uses opaque plastic cartridges, so you
can't see inside at all. You just have to take the printer's word that
the ink really is gone. Silly design.

Gary Eickmeier

 

[measekite]

I have an Epson 260, with individual ink cartridges. I printed a
couple hundred strictly B&W labels on CDs, but all colors ran down
along with the black. I suspect that it is the cleaning cycles that it
orders for itself every time I turn it on that do most of that.

You should let it run 24/7 and never turn it off.

My Canon i8500 has cartidges with clear plastic, so you can see the
ink inside. Whenever I change cartidges, I can clearly see that the
ink has all run out. On my Epson, it uses opaque plastic cartridges,
so you can't see inside at all. You just have to take the printer's
word that the ink really is gone. Silly design.

Canon is definitely superior. It also produces better results and
faster and also has more features. You achieve all of this using OEM ink.

 

[TJ]

More than half the soap that I use is thrown away. I've tried again and
again to smear it all over my body and put my clothing on, but it's not
comfortable and I smell like a bar of soap.

The only way that it works properly is when I rinse it all off. I tell
you it's a conspiracy between the soap makers to make you keep buying
consumables. Let's get even and make our own soap.

It's the same way with bottled water. A good 75% or more of the water I
drink is just thrown away as either sweat or yellowish liquid waste. Yet
I'm encouraged to drink more water by health professionals. They all own
stock in bottled water companies, I'm sure.

But I've got 'em beat. I refill my glass from my own tap. It comes from
a well, so all I have to pay for is the electricity to pump it from the
ground. While it's true that it tastes different from bottled water, I
have yet to notice any fading, or any difference in how long it stays
within my body. There has been no clogging whatsoever. It works equally
well for rinsing soap off, too.

I think everybody should follow my example. We'll show those water
bottlers that they can't hold us hostage like that!

TJ

 

[Taliesyn]

It's the same way with bottled water. A good 75% or more of the water I
drink is just thrown away as either sweat or yellowish liquid waste.

But that's only AFTER you drink it, not before (as with soap use). You
don't throw out a good water bottle with 25-50% water left in it! Even
if you did, the cost of water was only pennies to start with. Ink
cartridges get thrown out with plenty of unused ink in them (several
dollars worth) is the point of the original article.

-Tallllllllllllliesyn (sorry, I thought I'd waste some "l's"

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I buy store brand soap in bulk and refill the soap dispenser in my
shower, and I don't know who makes it. It doesn't clog my pores any
worse than brand named soap does ;-)

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Yes, you are correct that the printer uses all ink colors evenly during
cleaning, start up or cartridge replacement purges.

I don't think the opaque cartridges on the Epson models is silly at all.
The word devious does come to mind however ;-)

Art