More than 30 print industry professionals gathered in Melbourne on 12 February for a Dscoop HP Indigo Sustainability Exchange, gaining behind-the-scenes access to how HP Indigo digital press consumables are collected, processed and repurposed at Close the Loop’s advanced recycling facility in Reservoir.
The event brought together Dscoop, HP, Currie Group, Ball & Doggett and Close the Loop, along with print service providers using HP Indigo technology, to explore the practical mechanics underpinning circular economy outcomes.
Close the Loop, founded in 2001 with a commitment to zero waste to landfill, is now an ASX-listed company with audited zero waste to landfill certified reporting and operations in Australia, North America, Europe and South Africa. It operates around 60,000 collection sites across Australia, enabling recycling of products ranging from batteries to printer cartridges.
CEO and executive director Kesh Nair welcomed guests, highlighting the role of collaboration across brands, retailers, manufacturers and government.
“We are excited to have all the stakeholders in the room, to talk about strategies to progress towards a circular economy, and to better understand the processes which underpin our promises here at Close the Loop,” he said.
Co-founder and head of circularity Steve Morriss outlined the principles guiding the company’s operations, beginning with product design.
“The first pillar of a circular economy is design – to ensure products stay in circulation for as long as possible and, when it cannot be circulated again, to ensure the atoms and molecules in the raw materials can be used again,” Morriss said.
Close the Loop separates and refurbishes equipment components for return to HP’s manufacturing facilities in Israel and processes consumables such as toner canisters and toner itself into new products.
Over 20 years, more than 17.5 million HP products have been processed globally through the partnership, including 8.5 million at the Melbourne facility. According to Close the Loop, this represents 76 per cent of HP spare parts and consumables products, diverting more than 7,800 tonnes from landfill.
One of the key outputs is rFlex recycled plastic resin, produced from mixed post-consumer soft plastics, printer cartridges and cosmetic packaging. Another is TonerPlas, an engineered asphalt additive created by blending recovered soft plastics, including HP Indigo toner canisters, with waste toner.
Toner, Morriss explained, presents technical challenges because of its engineered electrostatic properties. “It’s actually a co-polymer of either polystyrene or polyester but, because it is engineered to carry a charge, it is notoriously difficult to handle and recycle,” Morriss said. “With TonerPlas, we create an additive which, when added to bitumen, results in roads that are stronger, and last longer, than traditional asphalt surfaces.”
Guests toured the plant, observing canisters being shredded and processed into TonerPlas pellets.
The discussion extended to proposed extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation and C-Flex guidelines, before Ball & Doggett’s sustainability and compliance manager Zaidee Jackson addressed the group.
Jackson said sustainability should be viewed not as compliance, but as competitive advantage, noting that research indicates consumers want the option to choose sustainable products.
Ball & Doggett also launched a new HP Indigo Swatch Book featuring 153 certified stocks for HP Indigo presses.
Amy Yu from Dscoop outlined upcoming Dscoop Edge events in Denver and Slovenia, with two complimentary registrations awarded on the night.
The event concluded with remarks from Craig Walmsley, HP, and Mark Daws, Currie Group, who reiterated their organisations’ commitment to partnership and thanked attendees for participating in the Dscoop Sustainability Exchange, as well as acknowledging the Close the Loop team for hosting the facility tour.
