FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
About the product
- Doesn’t the quality of recycled plastic vary widely?
- Konica Minolta uses the raw materials for PCR materials to materials that are replaced often and that have relatively little degradation, so there is little variability in physical properties, ensuring physical properties that are nearly equivalent to those of virgin plastic.
- Isn’t obtaining a consistent supply of recycled plastic difficult?
- The raw materials Konica Minolta uses in our recycled plastic (waste materials collected from the market) are procured through unique routes in partnership with partner companies and include materials with little degradation, such as the interior components of gaming machines, water gallon jugs, and milk bottles.
This is why we have been able to consistently use recycled plastic with physical properties on par with those of virgin plastic for over a decade since we started using recycled plastic in our multifunction copiers in 2011.
- What are the advantages of using recycled plastic?
- Transforming trash that causes marine pollution into an effective resource makes a significant contribution to the environment.
As an example, the quality of Konica Minolta’s toner bottles is on par with that of virgin plastic (petroleum-based plastic) and the bottles reduce CO2 emissions by about 50%.
- Isn’t recycled plastic more costly than virgin plastic?
- As with virgin plastic, the price of recycled plastic fluctuates with the price of crude oil, which may result in higher costs in some cases.
However, we have arranged our own procurement routes in partnership with partner companies, so prices fluctuate less than with virgin plastic, and past trends indicate that the price is, on average, on par with that of virgin plastic.
Inquiries about our recycled plastic
Products
Matelier utilizes waste materials that have a short usage period and relatively little deterioration. For example, milk bottles, water bottles, PET bottles, and other bottles that are discarded as soon as they are finished drinking are used as raw materials. In addition, CDs and DVDs used indoors or in cars, and amusement machines that are used in air-conditioned rooms and whose models are changed every 3 to 5 years are also utilized.
Technology
The recycled plastic developed by Konica Minolta is used in the housing of MFPs, which require highly functional materials, through high-purity and upgrade recycling technologies. These technologies have the potential to expand the use of waste plastics and contribute to the realization of a sustainable, recycling-oriented society by reducing environmental impact.
Message
Recycled plastics must offer the same or better quality, cost, and supply as petroleum-derived virgin plastics, as well as high environmental performance, making the formulation design extremely challenging. We achieved our goal by designing the entire process, including the production process, while making full use of material design/analysis/evaluation technology, one of our core technologies.
Case
Konica Minolta has been accumulating recycled plastic technology for more than 10 years. Konica Minolta has been using recycled plastic obtained through material recycling in its MFPs for more than 10 years.
FAQ
Konica Minolta utilizes raw materials for PCR materials that have a fast replacement cycle and relatively little degradation, so there is little variation in physical properties, ensuring that the properties are almost the same as those of virgin materials.