At Lexmark, we’re committed to reducing our waste generated by our worldwide facilities in every way that we can and dispose of it in a safe and responsible manner. Our facilities measure and report our generated waste and disposal methods to ensure we are making progress in our overall waste-reduction efforts. Waste management programs at our offices and manufacturing sites promote recycling and provide guidance to ensure our waste is responsibly managed.
Lexmark eliminates waste through our waste management and recycling programs at all of our facilities worldwide. Each Lexmark manufacturing or research and development facility has a written plan to address the appropriate handling of waste generated at the site. The plan addresses the handling, storage and/or transportation of waste that is characterized and measured to determine prevention areas. The waste is managed according to international best practice, following all governmental regulations.
Lexmark continually works toward reducing the quantity of waste generated by reducing waste at the source and recycling and reusing waste in an environmentally safe manner where possible. Our facilities minimize waste through sustainable operations, lean manufacturing techniques and environmental management programs.
Lexmark generated a total of 8,776 metric tons of waste in 2023, with 99% of the waste generated worldwide being non-hazardous.1 Hazardous waste accounts for approximately 1% of Lexmark total waste. The primary hazardous waste materials are residues from manufacturing and development processes. Hazardous waste that is generated by Lexmark research and development, and manufacturing facilities is managed by external companies that specialize in the management of hazardous waste. Since our baseline year of 2015, we have reduced total waste generated by 11,051 metric tons or 56% with a target to achieve 50% by 2025. With early achievement of this goal, a revised 2030 reduction goal of 50% was established with the later baseline year of 2019.
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Waste management data |
Disposal methods for waste are determined through the collaborative efforts of Lexmark and our waste-management partners. Working together, we have identified new opportunities for recycling waste, reducing our usage of incineration and landfill while increasing usage of waste-to-energy recovery where other recycling options are unavailable.
The development, quality testing and manufacturing of Lexmark imaging devices can result in the generation of unique waste streams. Waste from development and production is characterized as chemical waste (toner, component development and manufacturing), paper waste (print testing) or printers and other electronic components (performance and quality testing).
To eliminate hazards to human health and the environment from fires and releases of these waste products, each chemical usage facility provides controls for chemical, petroleum and waste storage tanks. The tanks are installed, operated, inspected and removed according to the specific and applicable governmental regulations. We limit the environmental impact of collected waste by giving it a second life. Chemical waste is primarily processed into usable heat, electricity or fuel through energy recovery. Examples of the waste stream utilization include toner waste reused as an asphalt additive to improve its performance, print testing paper recycled into innovative paper products, and cartridge materials that are reused or recycled.
1Waste data is from 100% of Lexmark’s owned development and manufacturing sites based on square feet.
