Ethical Printers, Scanners & All In Ones

With more people working from home than ever before, demand for home printers has risen sharply. This makes it increasingly important to consider the ethics and sustainability of the printer brands we choose. Some printer companies are linked to human rights concerns, environmental destruction, and involvement in the defence and fossil fuels industries, meaning that purchasing decisions in this sector can have real-world consequences. The Good Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table allows consumers to compare brands across a range of ethical criteria and identify which companies operate to the highest standards. Opting for brands in the green section of the table is the simplest way to ensure your purchase supports responsible business practices.

Used printer ink cartridges are a significant source of environmental waste. An estimated 45 million used ink cartridges are thrown away in the UK every year, taking up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in landfill while leaching toxic chemicals into the environment. However, the good news is that the vast majority of cartridges are recyclable. Many printer brands now offer return schemes that allow consumers to send back empty cartridges for recycling, preventing them from entering landfill. Checking whether your printer brand offers a cartridge recycling scheme is a straightforward step towards reducing the environmental impact of your printing habits.

Paper production carries a significant environmental cost: it takes approximately 24 trees to produce a single tonne of paper. While printer paper accounts for only a small share of total global deforestation, being mindful of paper consumption remains important. Choosing FSC-certified printer paper, which is produced to stricter environmental standards, is a good starting point. Opting for recycled printer paper goes further still, as it reduces the demand for virgin wood pulp and helps limit deforestation. Reducing overall printing volumes by avoiding unnecessary print jobs and making use of digital alternatives is equally important for minimising environmental impact.

Several printer brands in The Good Shopping Guide’s research have been flagged for serious ethical concerns. Kyocera receives the lowest score in the category, having been marked down for supplying components to the fossil fuels and aerospace and defence industries, linking the brand to environmental destruction and the human costs of conflict. HP has also attracted criticism for human rights concerns: in 2020, the brand was identified by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as using Chinese suppliers linked to Uyghur forced labour. HP has additionally been criticised for testing its printer ink on animals, a practice that raises serious animal welfare concerns. Consumers wishing to avoid these issues should consult The Good Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table before purchasing.

Printing has a measurable environmental impact, from the energy and materials used in manufacturing printer hardware to the ongoing consumption of ink, paper, and electricity. Before investing in a printer, it is worth considering whether it is genuinely necessary. Tablets and e-readers make digital reading more accessible than ever, emails should only be printed when essential, and high-quality free spreadsheet and document software removes the need to produce paper copies of many documents. Public libraries, universities, and community centres often offer printing facilities for a small cost, and sharing a printer with a neighbour or colleague is another practical way to reduce demand. When a printer is needed, choosing a brand that scores highly on The Good Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table ensures that your purchase is as responsible as possible.

Brother sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table, performing well across most assessed categories, including its Environmental Report, Fossil Fuels, and Human Rights credentials, though it receives acceptable rather than top ratings for its Code of Conduct and Other Criticisms assessments. Without Ethical Accreditation, applying for it could provide Brother with a recognised means of formally demonstrating its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.

OKI sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as its Fossil Fuels, Human Rights, and Conflict Minerals credentials, though it falls short in its Armaments rating and receives acceptable rather than top marks for its Environmental Report and Code of Conduct. Without Ethical Accreditation, applying for it could provide OKI with a recognised means of formally demonstrating its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.

Xerox sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as its Environmental Report, Animal Welfare, and Code of Conduct credentials, though it falls short in its Fossil Fuels, Armaments, and Political Donations ratings. Without Ethical Accreditation, applying for it could provide Xerox with a recognised means of formally demonstrating its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.

Epson falls below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table. The brand performs well in areas such as its Environmental Report, Animal Welfare, and Code of Conduct credentials, though it falls short in its Fossil Fuels and Other Criticisms ratings and receives acceptable rather than top marks for its Political Donations. Consumers seeking printer brands that do reach the ethical benchmark can consult The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible alternatives.

Lexmark falls below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table. The brand performs well in areas such as its Environmental Report, Fossil Fuels, and Code of Conduct credentials, though it falls short in its Armaments, Political Donations, and Human Rights ratings. Shoppers seeking printer brands that do reach the ethical benchmark can consult The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible alternatives.

HP falls below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table. The brand performs well in areas such as its Environmental Report, Fossil Fuels, and Code of Conduct credentials, though it falls short in its Political Donations, Human Rights, and Other Criticisms ratings. Those seeking printer brands that do reach the ethical benchmark can consult The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible alternatives.

Canon falls below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table. The brand performs well in areas such as its Environmental Report, Animal Welfare, and Code of Conduct credentials, though it falls short in its Fossil Fuels, Armaments, Human Rights, and Other Criticisms ratings and receives acceptable rather than top marks for its Political Donations. Consumers seeking printer brands that do reach the ethical benchmark can consult The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible alternatives.

Kyocera falls below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table. The brand performs well in areas such as its Environmental Report, Animal Welfare, and Code of Conduct credentials, though it falls short in its Nuclear Power, Fossil Fuels, Armaments, and Human Rights ratings — including a bottom rating under the Human Rights+ category, which is applied in cases where a brand has attracted a particularly serious or extensive record of human rights concerns. Those seeking printer brands that do reach the ethical benchmark can consult The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Printers, Scanners & All In Ones Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible alternatives.