Epson Singapore unveils its latest sustainable tech to help the growth and development of Singapore’s SMEs at its inaugural B2B Ignite in Singapore this month.

While Singapore ranks first in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s, Asian Digital Transformation Index, fostering digital transformation requires more than the adoption of new technologies. Today, this means creating environments where businesses can leverage innovation to deliver meaningful change that drives positive business outcomes.

Epson Singapore Regional Managing Director Munenori Ando says with SMEs continuing to be at the heart of Singapore’s economy and with the country’s push to be a Smart Nation, Epson aims to empower local businesses with the right tools to tackle the next steps towards being a sustainable business.

“Digital advancements, powered by innovation, continue to transform the way we live, work and play, while driving growth and competitiveness in the marketplace. Through the Singapore government’s Smart Nation initiative, the island nation has developed a thriving ecosystem that provides businesses with the opportunities to go from strength to strength. As organisations continue on their digital transformation journey, Epson is here to propel businesses to the next level when it comes to building a sustainable business model for a greener tomorrow,” says Ando.

Epson claims its move to expand and strengthen its B2B offerings in Singapore is a reflection of the company’s confidence in Singapore’s sustainable future.

Charting an environmental vision for 2050, Epson says its roadmap is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and declared its commitment to contribute to a better world by driving innovation and refining its core technologies to maximum efficiencies.

Epson says it is assessing its environmental impacts across the entire value chain to offer products and services that provide outstanding business, economic and environmental value in Singapore, with the express goal to reduce the carbon footprint of businesses.

Epson claims its WorkForce range of inkjet printers are designed with energy efficiency in mind. Epson says it helps organisations’ reduce waste with minimal replacement parts needed, and is also simpler to maintain and operate, resulting in workplace efficiency without compromising speed and quality.

Furthermore, Epson says its digital textile printers are built to reduce significant water and electricity consumption, by printing digital data directly on fabrics instead of using dedicated plates pressed directly onto the fabric; Epson claims this makes it a better choice for the environment when compared to traditional methods of fabric printing.

Ando says it well on its way to revolutionise the future of paper with the creation of PaperLab in Japan, the world’s first automated paper making system.

PaperLab uses a dry-process paper-making system that turns used paper into new paper through defibration, binding, and forming – all without the use of water so businesses can expect to purchase less new paper and reduce their carbon footprint in the long run.

Ando says SMEs need to accept the fact that no matter how small or large their business may be, they have a critical role to play in helping reduce environmental impact on society.

“Through innovative technologies, we help SMEs deliver more sustainable business operations by reducing power and energy consumption, waste output, and carbon footprint,” says Ando.

(Ed. Featured image of Seiko Epson General Manager of Printer Sales & Marketing Masanori Koizumi, discussing the Sustainable Printing Environmental Initiative at the Epson B2B Ignite, National Gallery Singapore October 2019 courtesy of Epson. Epson is a global tech company led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation. The worldwide Epson Group says it generates annual sales of more than USD 10 billion. Epson claims its inkjet printers consume up to 85% less energy than a similar-speed laser printer noted in Keypoint Intelligence Buyers Laboratory Custom Report May 2017 and Epson inkjet printers uses up to 59% less replacement parts compared to laser printers noted in Keypoint Intelligence Buyers Laboratory Custom Report May 2018.)