Impact of Engine Type and Product Type of Imaging Input and/or Output Equipment on the Carbon Footprint

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the disclosed information of carbon footprints of imaging input and/or output equipment such as printers and multifunction devices, and to determine issues for setting functional units that can compare carbon footprints between products. The carbon footprints of the equipment disclosed by the SuMPO EPD are not based on the premise of comparison between products. However, in order to realize carbon neutrality, it is necessary to establish calculation rules for carbon footprints that allow consumers to appropriately compare products. In this study, I analyzed the disclosed information of the SuMPO EPD of 155 equipment disclosed by Brother Industries, Ltd., and presented the current status of carbon footprints of the equipment and a proposal for setting comparable functional units. First, to compare products by functional unit, the lifetime number of printed pages between products should be the same. Second, the carbon footprint per number of printed pages, which is the functional unit, should be calculated by dividing the CO2 emissions over the life cycle of the product by the lifetime number of printed pages. And finally, a note should be added to indicate that the functional unit carbon footprint includes CO2 emissions over the life cycle, not just the use and maintenance stages.