Loading... Please wait...

Our Newsletter


News


pic-recycletree.gif

Ink Squidicon-leeve.gifNever "Run Out" Again…        

 

 

icon-checkmark.gif MUST VIEW - WTF: What the Font?

A smart teen found a way for the government to save millions of dollars just by switching the type of font they use.  Why not give it a try and switch to "Garamond?"

(Click to View the Video)

 

icon-checkmark.gifRemanufacturing cartridges ...

...helps to protect the environment. 375 million gallons of oil are consumed annually worldwide to produce new core housings for printer cartridges. Follow this link to "Remanufacturing." Read more

 

icon-checkmark.gifEach laser cartridge requires ...

...over 3 litres of oil in the production of its core housing. Discarding cartridges can be as debilitating to the environment as producing them. Help Save The Environment one cartridge at a time.  Let Ink Squid help you properly process your empties.  See FAQs.

 

icon-checkmark.gifREMANUFACTURED VS. RECYCLED

By John Scott, MS

 

I am often asked the question, "What’s the difference between a recycled product and a remanufactured product?" The difference can be confusing, but I offer the following operational definitions.

Remanufactured - In this process, a used product/part/machine is taken apart (i.e. becomes the raw material). Some components are replaced or refurbished, i.e. cleaned, polished, etc. Reassembly occurs with (as in the case of our products), inspection via a quality controlled process. The product/part/machine is put back into operation or sold to a consumer for a reduced price when compared to "original."

Recycled – In this process, a used product/part/machine is broken down to its essential elements/components. These elements/components are then used in a manufacturing process that produces a new product. So, metal removed from a car can be used to make window frames. Or, high density plastic from a toner cartridge can be used to produce a stapler.

We are very proud of our recycling/remanufacturing programs for the ink and toner products we sell. At Ink Squid we are committed to offering our clients products and services that can help them go green, environmentally and economically. Many of our clients use pre-paid UPS-labeled "recycling" boxes that we provide. They fill them with empty ink and/or toner cartridges, seal the box and give it their UPS person. Done! The box is sent to our recycling center and you contact us for another box. For non-business or infrequent users, a postage-paid plastic mailer is provided in the box with a new cartridge. Lost the envelope? No worries. Many US Post Office sites collect and route them to recycling centers through a program implemented by Clover Technologies, a global leader in providing businesses with environmental solutions. When the empties reach their destination, they go through a stringent selection process, which is the first step in the remanufacturing process. Cartridges that remain viable for remanufacturing are separated from those that aren’t. Those that aren’t, are recycled.

We encourage all of our clients to work towards zero waste in their businesses. It is our intention to provide resources to help achieve that goal. Education is the first step and I will add more "learning moments" in the future that I hope you find useful. 

icon-checkmark.gif MUST VIEW - G Y R E

Recently, many media outlets have really started to educate the public about GYRES - watch this 30 second video from NBC News. (Read my article below from a few years ago - the word is getting out!)

 http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/30-seconds-to-know/what-ocean-garbage-patch-n85501

icon-checkmark.gifTHERE IS A NEW ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC! BUT SAVE YOUR SUNTAN LOTION!

By John Scott, MS

 

In the winter of 2008, I gave a presentation to a business group about our products and the emphasis we put on using recycled materials. Plastic is a key ingredient in the production of original ink and toner cartridges; we prefer to re-use or recycle them. One of the points I made during that presentation was regarding the impact of discarded plastics on our water and food supply, and especially, on marine sources of food. I asked the group how many of them had heard of the "Gyre" (pronounced "jire")… a few hands went up… but the majority had puzzled looks on their faces. I proceeded to explain that floating in various layers north of Hawaii, exists what has also come to be known as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch." It is a natural tidal convergence zone of human-produced plastic and marine debris located 1,000 miles west of California. This evoked a lot of conversation! Needless to say I got a lot of feedback... people were glad to be made aware of the problem.

On August 28, 2009, there was an article written in the San Diego Union Tribune (by Mike Lee), entitled “Floating Dump Seen as Deadly to the Sea.” The article chronicled a new project being conducted by scientists from UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The Gyre, a floating “dump” is about the size of Texas (about 1,000 miles west of California) and we may NEVER be able to completely clean it up. The debris can kill marine life and could have more insidious effects, such as concentrating poisons in the food chain (look at recent concerns about BPA in plastic water bottles)! The gist of this article is, "Oh boy, do we have a mess!" Scientists are "afraid" of what the project team will find when they actually start to do their in-depth study and the situation is probably getting worse as you read this!

So, besides the issues with regard to global warming, we are slowly poisoning ourselves… via our plastic products! Hey, I've got an idea. Start buying remanufactured/recycled products! Use certified recyclers when you finally dispose of that plastic product (electronic or non-electronic). Your local grocery store is a great place to recycle those plastic bags that are piling up under the kitchen sink. Buying a reusable bag is a great way to cut down on the waste and pollution.

Finally, we all have to take responsibility for the world we are all going to leave behind. I like the idea of our children being able to enjoy the resources of our oceans and land, preferably land not made out of plastic! Speaking of land, let's keep those empty cartridges out of our landfills where they can take hundreds of years to decompose, all the while leaching their toxic substances into our land and water resources.

John Scott is a co-founder of Ink Squid. He has an MS degree in biology from Old Dominion University and over 25 years of experience in the Medical Device/Pharmaceutical/Biotech industries. He is also co-chairman of the Green Business Alliance Group in the San Diego County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

 

icon-checkmark.gif WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT PATENTS AND REMANUFACTURED TONER PRODUCTS?

By John Scott, MS  

At this, our website, we give a lot of reasons to use the products we promote. I’d like to give patents a little more of the attention they deserve.

Now as a vendor of ink and toner products, I need to make sure that the products are reliably delivered, will perform flawlessly and that they do not infringe on the intellectual property of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

So far, I haven’t had a single client ask me any patent-related questions.  Usually, the main concerns are about competitive prices, whether the product is reliable (we do offer a warranty), and if they order from us will it be delivered when they need it?

Have you gone into any of the big office supply stores lately?  You may have noticed that the number of remanufactured and store brand (generic) product is reduced or completely absent.  With stores selling remanufactured products at a lower price next to and as an alternative to the OEM’s products, it has put a dent in their profits.  So, their solution to this is to inform the stores that their patents are being infringed, and the stores stop selling them.  This trend was forecasted in late summer 2012 by industry experts.  

How does this affect YOU?  Well, let’s say you have found a vendor, and you are reasonably happy with the price and quality of ink and toner you have been getting.  Hey, you have noticed that the cheap price you have been getting is definitely helping your bottom line.  You used that “extra” money to give your dedicated staff a bonus!  Then you get a notice that they will have to raise your price or worse yet, they tell you they can no longer provide your product (because of a cease and desist order)!  Or, in another version of this story the cheap ink or toner worked great initially, but now you notice that they are starting to fail frequently.  The productivity and efficiency of your staff (that you just gave a raise) is starting to decline.  You might have a mad scramble on your hands!

Now, in this scenario there is a happy ending because you discovered Ink Squid!  We do not expose our clients to questionable products!  We only work with U. S. manufacturers who offer the highest quality and do not infringe on OEM patents! 

Remember, when selecting a vendor to provide your printer consumables, be sure to ask if there are any pending patent related litigation issues.