Recycling Paper Is Still an Energy-Intensive Process. A New Innovation Changes That.

Computers and tablets have not succeeded in creating the paperless office we expected. Businesses still like to print — a lot. So Epson, the printer manufacturer, has stepped up its game to help minimize waste, announcing the creation of an in-house paper recycling solution for businesses. Meet the PaperLab.

The purpose of the PaperLab is to cut down on the waste created in the recycling process. Rather than hiring a company to transport paper waste, companies can have a localized solution, which in turn cuts down on new paper purchases. It’s an economical, ecological solution all rolled into one.

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The PaperLab can produce around 14 A4 sheets per minute, producing a total of 6,720 sheets in a normal 9-to-5 workday. It uses no water; instead, it works by breaking down the paper into tiny fibers, bringing them back together to create a crisp white sheet of paper. 

The prototype will be featured at the 2015 Eco-Products exhibition in Tokyo with plans to bring the PaperLab into Japanese offices by 2016.

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Author and environmental strategist Andrew Winston explains how the necessity of finding these green solutions has led to companies being spoiled for choice. “There’s a whole category of things that companies do that save money very quickly,” he says. “All things that fall under kind of the banner of eco-efficiency or energy efficiency or using less.” Epson’s PaperLab is proof of that motivation.

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Natalie has been writing professionally for about 6 years. After graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in Feature Writing, she snagged a job at PCMag.com where she had the opportunity to review all the latest consumer gadgets. Since then she has become a writer for hire, freelancing for various websites. In her spare time, you may find her riding her motorcycle, reading YA novels, hiking, or playing video games. Follow her on Twitter: @nat_schumaker

Photo Credit: Epson