Corporate responsibility is a rare trait for businesses these days, so it's a welcome surprise when companies go out of their way to track their products from the assembly line to a means of proper disposal. Canon U.S.A. has made this a part of its business plan by creating one of the largest nationwide inkjet cartridge recycling programs in the country. The company has partnered with FedEx Office, Sims Recycling Solutions and Close the Loop to provide an invaluable service to consumers and large-scale businesses with a sustainable outlet for spent printer cartridges so they can be recycled into new products.

"With the rise in consumer environmental awareness, Canon is pleased to offer customers the opportunity to participate in this national recycling program," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager of imaging technologies and communications at Canon U.S.A. "Environmental responsibility and awareness have always been a top priority for Canon, and recycling is one of the simplest yet most beneficial aspects of this."

The new recycling initiative will allow individuals and businesses to drop off their empty inkjet print cartridges at more than 1,600 FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers across the country. They will then be sent off to Sims Recycling Solutions to be consolidated before heading to Close the Loop, which specializes in the proper recycling of these cartridges into felt-tip pens, markers and other products.

The program is part of Canon's effort to reduce its environmental impact throughout the life of the product and to encourage sustainability and possible cost-savings through efficient disposal of goods. The initiative will help to remove tons of waste from local landfills and put many of these spent products to good use in other capacities.