ETIRA Calls for Industry-Wide Action to Tackle Non-Compliant Printer Cartridges
February 26, 2025
The European Toner & Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) is calling on all responsible stakeholders across the European market—remanufacturers, OEMs, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, repair and recycling businesses, public sector buyers, and environmental organisations—to join us in demanding urgent action from the European Commission.
Every year, millions of non-compliant and illegal printer cartridges flood into the EU, bypassing essential environmental and safety regulations. These products undermine the circular economy, threaten consumer safety, and cripple legitimate businesses that invest in sustainability. Without a strong, coordinated response, Europe’s vision for a greener, fairer printing market will be lost to non-compliant imports and unsustainable practices.
The Crisis We Must Address
- Illegal and non-compliant cartridges dominate the market, evading Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules, failing REACH and CLP safety requirements, and misleading consumers with fake certifications.
- The share of genuine remanufactured cartridges has plummeted, forcing many remanufacturers out of business and costing thousands of green jobs.
- The European Commission’s studies confirm that cartridge reuse could reach 85%, yet this target remains unachievable without action against illegal imports.
Our Demands for a Fairer and Greener Market
ETIRA is calling on the European Commission to:
✅ Prioritise enforcement by designating printer cartridges as a Priority Control Area (PCA), ensuring proper oversight by Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
✅ Hold online marketplaces accountable for enabling the sale of non-compliant products, making them share responsibility for compliance enforcement.
✅ Introduce a system similar to the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for printer cartridges, ensuring transparency, compliance verification, and informed consumer choices.
✅ Strengthen border controls and customs enforcement to prevent non-compliant products from entering the EU market.
✅ Embed sustainable public procurement rules to ensure that public sector buyers prioritise genuine remanufactured products over disposable, non-compliant imports.
✅ Increase funding and resources for Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) to enforce compliance effectively.
Join the Campaign – Let’s Demand Change Together!
No single organisation can win this fight alone. We need the entire European printing industry to stand together. Whether you are a remanufacturer, an OEM, a distributor, a retailer, or a business committed to sustainability, your voice matters.
📢 ETIRA is calling on all stakeholders to unite and campaign for stricter enforcement, fair competition, and real sustainability in the European market.
📧 Contact ETIRA today at info(at)etira.org, to support our campaign, co-sign our letter to the EU, and help shape the future of our industry. Together, we can ensure a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable future for printing in Europe.
🔗 Spread the word! Please share this message, co-sign our letter to the EU, and stand with ETIRA.
Co-Signatories:
Belgium:
ETIRA European Toner & Inkjet Remanufacturers’ Association
Germany:
CM Printing GmbH
Italy:
PACTO Association
Refilservice srl
Sapi SRL
Spain:
IMEX EU Trading SL
GENERAL MACHINES TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
United Kingdom
ECS – Effective Consumable Solutions
Honest Inks Ltd.
Keypoint Intelligence
Tags
2025Campaign
Non-Compliance
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.”