KYOCERA Document Solutions
Sustainability
Product Development Stage -ECOSYS Concept
ECOSYS Concept
ECOSYS is Kyocera’s proprietary design concept combining Ecology, Economy, and System. By incorporating proprietary technologies, including long-life a-Si photoconductor drums, it reduces the use of consumables and replacement parts. The concept lowers the maintenance burden associated with replacement work and servicing, while achieving both reduced environmental impact and improved economy through lower total cost of ownership (TCO). In this way, ECOSYS aims to create sustainable value throughout the entire product life cycle.
Evolution of ECOSYS
Since the launch of the first ECOSYS printer, the ECOSYS FS-1500, in 1992, we have continually refined our technologies through ongoing improvements while responding to market changes, and have upheld the concept for more than a quarter of a century. We continue to develop technologies for even longer product life, pursuing the ultimate goal of “Eco-Reduce Zero”, in which no waste is generated until the multifunction printer or printer itself reaches the end of its service life. We will continue to advance ECOSYS as a concept that embodies our commitment to carbon neutrality.
ECOSYS進化の歴史
| Year | Technological Innovation | Key Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | a-Si (Amorphous Silicon) Photoconductor Drum | Achieved a drum life of 300,000 pages |
| 2011 | a-C (Amorphous Carbon-based) Thin Film | Achieved a drum life of over 1 million pages |
| 2016 | Submicron-scale micro-texturing technology | Reduced friction with the cleaning blade by approximately 30%, enabling a photoconductor unit life of 600,000 pages In addition, reduced drum drive power consumption by approximately 30% |
Environment-Conscious Design
We employ designs that are environment-conscious from various perspectives for our products, including a long-life design that helps reduce the number of resources used, the frequency of part replacements, and the amount of waste generated, the "3R" design that emphasizes "reduction," "reuse" and "recycling" of components, low power consumption design that helps mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases, and elimination of specific chemical substances which may be contained in products.
Eco-Conscious Design Assessment
We pursue design based on the "Environment-Conscious Design Standards" at each stage from the early development of new products, and working on product development by evaluating whether Environment-Conscious Design is being carried out based on the "Environment-Conscious Design Check List."
These checklists include questions such as "how many components have been reduced and how much has the product weight been lowered compared to previous products," attributes such as "the ease of disassembly and material sorting in the recycling process," and design targets that contribute to curbing the impact on the environment during the processes of manufacturing components and assembling products. Each of these items is numerically quantified and evaluated.
● Evaluation Criteria for Eco-Conscious Design Assessment
- Long-life design
- Design to conserve resources and energy
- 3R design
- Design for easy degradation, separation and classification
- Elimination of hazardous chemical substances
Complying with these standards and specifications and implementing the assessments mentioned above allows us to promote the development of eco-conscious products. And, in addition to product design, we also focus on product packaging and distribution, continuously making eco-conscious efforts in those areas as well.
