Epson products were featured at the Eco-Products International Fair (EPIF) 2014, the largest environmental exhibition in Asia. Held at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall earlier this year, the EPIF was jointly organized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade.
Interest in environmental action has been mounting in Asia in recent years owing to a series of disasters caused by extreme weather patterns. Taiwan, which has a strong market for environmental goods, was chosen to host this year’s EPIF, now in its ninth year. Epson had a solid presence at EPIF, with Epson Taiwan Technology & Trading Ltd., Epson Singapore Pte., Ltd. and Seiko Epson Corporation presenting exhibits that highlighted Epson’s efforts to create eco-considerate products in new business areas and to help realize a sustainable society.
Epson depicted mileposts in the company’s development, starting with the seminal EP-101, the world’s first small, lightweight digital printer. The digital imaging company also drew attention to the environmental benefits of Epson’s compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies and explained that Epson is expanding beyond consumer markets and into the business, industrial, sports and personal healthcare sectors.
The Epson booth was divided into four areas: “compact and light,” “recycling,” “new perspectives,” and “personal healthcare and sports.” In each area, the company explained how the environmental performance of Epson products creates customer value, and introduced the enabling technologies.
In the “compact and light” area, Epson highlighted its latest inkjet all-in-one printers for the home, which are substantially smaller and lighter in weight than equivalent models from the previous year. By using fewer parts, achieving higher transportation efficiency, making more efficient use of space, and reducing waste materials, Epson contributed to the reduction of environmental impacts across the entire product life cycle.
In the “recycling” area, Epson showcased the L550, a high-capacity ink tank printer for emerging markets that is highly affordable yet provides outstanding print quality. Epson was awarded an International Green Classics Award (Green Product Award) by the organizers of EPIF in recognition of the significantly lower environmental impact of this product.
The exhibit in the “new perspectives” area featured demo printing by an Epson SureColor F2000 garment printer and designer clothing using a textile printer. In addition to emphasizing the print speed, image quality, and variety of output made possible by Epson’s Micro Piezo inkjet technology, the company explained how inkjet textile printers are revolutionizing the textile printing process and reducing environmental impacts through less waste.
In the personal healthcare and sports area, the company showed off some products that capitalize on Epson’s unique sensing technology, such as sports and heart-rate monitors that benefit athletes and the increasing number of people at risk from lifestyle-related illnesses. Visitors to the booth were given a chance to try out an Epson pulse monitor. Worn on the wrist, these energy-efficient, multifunction pulse monitors operate for an extended period of time on a single charge.
On the main stage, Epson introduced a design-for-recycling initiative in Japan by providing visitors with a hands-on printer disassembly experience. This event raised awareness of recycling and showed people that Epson’s products are designed for easy disassembly, material sorting, and recycling.
Epson’s booth attracted visitors from Taiwan, mainland China, India, Singapore, Europe, the Americas, and other corners of the globe. The company surveyed visitors to find out their interests and concerns with respect to the environment and to hear what types of products and services they would like to see in the future. Epson will use the findings to develop activities and provide products and services that meet regional needs.