Green Friday: Why We Skip Black Friday — and Focus on Sustainability Instead

Each year, the build-up to Black Friday brings big discounts, limited-time offers and pressure to buy. At Cartridge King, we take a different approach.
We don’t inflate prices only to slash them on one weekend — instead, our goal is to keep our prices as competitive as possible all year round.

But while we don’t participate in Black Friday discounts, we do believe passionately in something even more important: reducing waste and protecting the planet.

This year, we want to shine a light on Green Friday — a reminder that small choices make a big impact, especially when it comes to how we use and dispose of printer ink cartridges.

The Scale of Ink Cartridge Waste in the UK

Ink cartridges are small items with a surprisingly large footprint.

Here are a few key facts:

  • The UK uses over 65 million printer cartridges every year, yet only an estimated 15% are recycled.
  • Globally, hundreds of millions still end up in landfill annually, taking up to 1,000 years to decompose.
  • Cartridges contain plastics, metals, residual ink and chips — all of which require careful handling to prevent unnecessary environmental harm.

With so many cartridges in circulation, recycling is one of the simplest ways to make a real difference.

What We’re Doing: Genuine Inks + Real Recycling

Unlike many retailers, Cartridge King only sells original manufacturer ink cartridges — no remanufactured or compatible versions.

Why does that matter for sustainability?

Because the major manufacturers (including Canon, Epson, HP and Brother) have dedicated recycling programmes designed to:

  • Recover valuable materials
  • Reduce single-use plastic
  • Reuse components wherever possible
  • Minimise the environmental footprint of each cartridge

And in our case, this goes even further…

We Support HP & Canon Europe’s Official Cartridge Recycling Programmes

We’re proud to play a direct role in sustainability efforts by supporting manufacturer’s Europe’s closed-loop cartridge recycling system.

This programme ensures:

  • Zero cartridges sent to landfill
  • Full material recovery, including plastics and metals
  • Energy-efficient processing
  • Environmentally responsible handling at every stage

When customers choose original HP & Canon cartridges from Cartridge King, they’re choosing a product that’s part of a genuine, proven recycling lifecycle.

Why Cartridge King Chooses “Green Friday”

By choosing not to run Black Friday sales, we focus instead on what truly provides long-term value:

1. Fair Prices All Year Round

You never have to wait for a specific day to get a good deal.

2. Quality That Reduces Waste

Original inks produce fewer print issues, fewer reprints, and less wasted material.

3. Responsible Recycling of Empty Cartridges

By supporting manufacturer recycling programmes — including HP & Canon’s Europe-wide scheme — we help ensure that empty cartridges re-enter the circular economy.

4. Encouraging Smarter Printing Habits

Double-sided printing, draft mode, and only printing what you need all help reduce waste.

 

What You Can Do This Green Friday

Small steps add up. You can help by:

  • Returning your empty Canon cartridges via our recycling programme at https://cartridgeking.co.uk/pages/ink-recycling-information
  • Store your empties instead of binning them – store your empties until you have a full bag to send back to us, don’t put them in your waste.
  • Printing smarter: draft mode, black-and-white, and duplex printing

A Better Deal for You — and the Planet

We may not offer Black Friday discounts, but we offer something better:

  • Genuine inks
  • Consistent pricing
  • Sustainable practices
  • A commitment to reducing waste, not creating more

Thank you for being part of our journey — and for supporting greener printing choices this Black Friday season.

 

Zurück zum Blog