65% less emissions by 2030
We believe sustainability is about more than recycling and operating responsibly; it's an opportunity to support the communities we're a part of and to have a positive impact on the world.
On average we receive 2 million toner cartridges back per year to be reused or recycled.
Our recycling process is officially 100% carbon neutral from start to finish.
Our recycling facilities have been accredited with zero waste to landfill every year since 2013.
We understand that sustainability matters, which is why minimising our impact on the planet has always been a fundamental part of what we do and why we have a global team that, with your help, make that happen. From developing long-lasting, durable products, to ethically remanufacturing or recycling 100% of the Brother cartridges you send back to us, our ‘Green Team’ have been helping us all be more sustainable for almost two decades.
But we want to make an even bigger impact, and with you by our side, we can. Our promise to you is simple. Send us back your used cartridges, and we will make sure 100% of them are remanufactured or recycled to the highest quality. That way, together, we can continue to strive towards a more sustainable, carbon neutral future.
Thank you for being at our side!
Our recycling scheme starts in the UK and we recycle our first 30,000 cartridges
Our first dedicated recycling factory opens in Slovakia
Increase in capacity and process improvements mean we are able to remanufacture or recycle 1 million toner cartridges per year
All Brother toner cartridges are designed to be reused
After almost a decade of recycling we hit another milestone for Brother
Our recycling process officially accredited as zero waste to landfill, an accolade we have maintained every year since
Anything that cannot be direct reused can be ground down and made into new as part of our commitment to a Circular Economy
Our first automated remanufacturing line means we can reuse more increasing our capacity
100% of toners returned are reused to create new toner cartridges or recycled to create other Brother products
Following our UK plant's accreditation in 2021, our Slovakian recycling facility achieves carbon neutral status
Brother has been operating a Circular Economy for toner collection for several years. Our closed loop recycling process means that we collect any waste toner cartridges, and reuse or recycle them to make new ones, with nothing going to landfill.
Our cartridges go through a full circlular process. As the plastic we use doesn't contain POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants), we can reuse it again and again and again.
This approach enables us to remanufacture or recycle 100% of all returned toner cartridges.
All toners are returned to us, completely free of charge to the customer. Once returned, all cartridges are either reused or recycled using the following process:
1. Cartridge returned: We receive all returned toners at one of our European recycling facilities.
2. Remanufactured or recycled: If the cartridge can be reused, we follow steps 3-5. If not, it is recycled to make other products.
3. Cleaned and replaced: The cartridge is cleaned and any worn parts are replaced. New toner is added.
4. Quality control: The cartridge is checked to ensure it meets our 'as good as new' standard.
5. Packed and ready: Cartridges ready to be sold across Europe.
We have our own dedicated Brother recycling factories in the UK and Slovakia so we can take complete control of the remanufacturing and recycling process of toner cartridges. Each time we reuse a print cartridge at one of our factories, it saves 36% CO2 compared to making a new one.
Both factories have received carbon neutral status and run on 100% green electricity. We employ around 300 'green employees' across the two sites, whose main focus is to continually improve our approach to recycling and to make it as energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly as possible.
Recycling with Brother is simple to do and completely free. Each toner cartridge you return is reused or recycled into a new product with the added peace of mind that nothing goes to landfill.
Together, with your ongoing support, we can continue to produce sustainable products, whilst also protecting and minimising the impact on our planet.
We believe sustainability is about more than recycling and operating responsibly; it's an opportunity to support the communities we're a part of and to have a positive impact on the world.
We have been donating to Cool Earth through our recycling programme since 2009, supporting some of our most endangered habitats across the globe. Here are some of the recent projects you have helped us support.