ETIRA’s 2025 Vision: Tackling Non-Compliance and Championing Sustainability
January 13, 2025
As Europe’s office imaging market enters 2025, ETIRA calls for more vigorous enforcement and a unified push towards sustainable, compliant remanufacturing.
The European office imaging market faces a pivotal year in 2025, marked as a tipping point where rising economic pressures and tightening regulations reshape the industry. The European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) is intensifying its efforts to tackle long-standing challenges and seize emerging opportunities for its members.
“2025 will test our industry’s resilience,” said Javier Martinez, ETIRA president. “But it’s also a chance to double down on compliance, sustainability, and fair competition.”
The Compliance Battle Intensifies
A top priority for ETIRA is addressing the ongoing influx of non-compliant imports. Despite years of advocacy, cartridges failing to meet EU standards—lacking CE markings, WEEE registration, or REACH compliance—continue to dominate market share, often entering through online platforms.
ETIRA highlights a growing EU-wide effort to hold online marketplaces accountable. An Online Sales Compliance team at the European Parliament is actively working to make platforms fully responsible for the products sold. ETIRA is engaging with this team to drive progress and align strategies.
“The unchecked flow of non-compliant imports undermines everything we’re working towards,” said Martinez. “2025 must be the year we see stronger enforcement and penalties across all EU member states.”
ETIRA urges greater collaboration among national authorities, industry stakeholders, and EU institutions like ECHA (REACH) and Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) to eliminate regulatory loopholes and penalize offenders.
Sustainability as a Growth Driver
With the EU’s circular economy agenda gaining momentum, 2025 represents a significant opportunity for compliant remanufacturers. ETIRA is championing remanufactured cartridges as cost-effective, environmentally responsible alternatives perfectly aligned with EU sustainability goals.
“The demand for sustainable solutions is growing, and remanufactured cartridges are ideally positioned to meet that demand,” said Martinez.
ETIRA strongly advocates for the inclusion of product criteria similar to those envisioned for Digital Product Passports (DPPs). These criteria would provide essential information about a product’s compliance, sustainability credentials, and remanufacturing history, empowering buyers to make informed choices.
Economic Challenges in 2025
The backdrop for ETIRA’s efforts is a challenging economic environment. Corporate bankruptcies surged in 2024, and the new year brings heightened inflation, rising energy costs, and interest rates.
These pressures are influencing office imaging sector trends. Businesses are increasingly opting for remanufactured cartridges as value-driven alternatives while delaying investments in new printers, relying instead on existing equipment.
“This environment reinforces the need for high-quality, compliant remanufactured consumables,” said Martinez. “But it also underscores the importance of fair competition—non-compliant products hurt both the environment and the economy.”
Looking Forward: ETIRA’s 2025 Agenda
ETIRA’s roadmap for 2025 includes:
- Advocacy for Fair Competition: Collaborating with EU institutions to strengthen enforcement against non-compliant imports and create a level playing field.
- Promoting Sustainability: Raising awareness about the benefits of remanufactured cartridges in achieving EU circular economy targets.
- Digital Product Passport-Type Information: Championing DPP-like product information to enhance market transparency and reward compliant businesses.
- Supporting Members: Providing resources and advocacy to help remanufacturers navigate economic and regulatory challenges.
A Vision for the Future
As Europe’s office imaging market adapts to the complexities of 2025, ETIRA remains committed to protecting and promoting its members’ interests. The association aims to secure a stronger, more competitive future by prioritising compliance, sustainability, and collaboration.
“2025 is a year of action,” said Martinez. “If we work together, we can overcome challenges and ensure a thriving, sustainable remanufacturing industry.”