Epson to End All Laser Printer Sales by 2026

(Photo: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler/Wikimedia Commons)Epson is a Japanese hardware company best known for their printers. The reason Epson has decided to end its laser printer division is sustainability. It has decided to discontinue selling laser printers by 2026. The company will instead focus on its more environmentally-friendly inkjet printers, according to a statement obtained by The Register. The firm stopped selling laser-printers in the United States some time back but maintained their line in Europe, Asia, and other markets. While consumers won’t be able purchase any new Epson laser printers after 2026 however, Epson promised that it would continue to provide support for existing customers through spare parts and supplies.

Epson says its inkjets use 85 percent less energy than their laser units, and emit 85 percent less CO2. Although these statistics may not be relevant to those who print occasionally at home, they can help businesses and non-profit organizations reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs.

Inkjets require less single-use materials. Laser printers require toner, developer, fusers and other disposable components, while inkjets only use ink and a waste ink container. Inkjet printers not only produce 60 percent less waste than lasers but also burn a lot of oil to make one cartridge.

The decision to end all laser printer sales is likely a part of Epson’s “Environmental Vision 2050,” a circular economic model the company first committed to in 2018 and revised last year. Its biggest focus is Epson’s promise to become carbon-negative and “underground resource free” by 2050.

That said, inkjet printers aren’t the definitive solution to sustainable printing that Epson would like consumers to believe them to be. The inkjet cartridges are quick to dry, which means that some users end up using more ink. The cost of inkjet printing is higher per page than traditional printers, so the savings you get from not using a laser printer may be offset by increased energy consumption. Epson was also in trouble recently when it forced some users of its printers to see an authorized technician to repair their suddenly broken machines. Some Epson L360, L130, L220, L310, and L365 users even have to replace their machines altogether, which only puts more money in Epson’s pocket while producing seemingly unnecessary e-waste.

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