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🌍 Earth Day 2025: How Our Partners Are Building a More Sustainable Tech Industry

Written by BlueStar | April 22, 2025 12:05:23 PM Z

From packaging innovations to emissions goals, our vendors are proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good business.

Every year, Earth Day reminds us that environmental action can start anywhere—in a warehouse, a lab, a supply chain, or even the packaging of a mobile printer. At BlueStar, we’re proud to work with forward-thinking vendors who are embedding sustainability into their operations in smart, strategic ways.

This year, we’re spotlighting three standouts: Epson, Honeywell, and Zebra Technologies. Each brings a different angle to sustainability—whether it's energy-efficient design, circular economy strategies, or emissions reduction targets—but they share a common belief: that protecting the planet is just good business.

Epson: Building a Greener Future Through Heat-Free Technology

Epson isn’t new to sustainability. In fact, it’s embedded into the company’s 80+ year history and vision for the future. Their goal? To become carbon negative and underground resource-free by 2050. That’s not just a tagline—it’s backed by science-based targets and tangible milestones.

One of their flagship sustainability innovations is Heat-Free Technology, used in Epson’s inkjet printers. Unlike traditional laser printing, which requires heat to fuse toner to paper, Epson’s PrecisionCore technology uses no heat, reducing energy consumption by up to 83% compared to equivalent laser devices. It’s a prime example of how rethinking the fundamentals of a technology can drastically reduce its environmental footprint.

And it doesn’t stop there. Epson’s business practices reflect their environmental values on every level:

  • Renewable energy adoption in global manufacturing sites

  • Sustainable product packaging that reduces plastic waste

  • An internal culture of environmental awareness and resource conservation

In 2023, the company was recognized by the CDP with an “A List” rating for climate change transparency and leadership. For partners and customers alike, Epson is proving that eco-conscious solutions can still deliver power, performance, and reliability.

Honeywell: Closing the Loop with Circular Economy Solutions

Honeywell’s approach to sustainability is refreshingly holistic. From carbon reduction and energy efficiency to recycling and responsible sourcing, the company sees environmental stewardship as essential to long-term business success.

At the core of Honeywell’s sustainability strategy is a robust circular economy framework:

  • Their Repair, Reuse, Recycle program extends the lifecycle of products, keeping devices in use longer and reducing e-waste.

  • Customers can return select products for refurbishment, which are then tested, recertified, and reintroduced into the field, lowering the need for new materials.

  • Honeywell is also pursuing sustainable materials and packaging alternatives, aiming to reduce the environmental burden across the full product lifecycle.

On the emissions side, Honeywell is setting ambitious internal targets:

  • Between 2004 and 2021, they achieved a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity.

  • They’re now targeting carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035, supported by investments in energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sourcing.

Beyond hardware, Honeywell is a major player in climate-focused industrial solutions. They’ve introduced:

  • Sustainable aviation fuel

  • Energy storage systems

  • Carbon capture technologies

This commitment to sustainability isn’t just about doing good—it’s helping customers meet their own ESG goals through smart, efficient tech.

Zebra Technologies: Design with Purpose, Impact at Scale

Zebra Technologies is setting a strong pace when it comes to climate action, circular design, and compliance with global environmental regulations.

Their commitment to Science-Based Targets (SBTi) means Zebra is working to:

  • Reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50%

  • Cut Scope 3 emissions by 15% by 2030

Zebra’s products and operations reflect this dedication in meaningful ways:

  • Packaging optimizations led to a 17% reduction in box size on key mobile devices, saving shipping resources and materials.

  • They’ve eliminated plastic wrap in several high-volume SKUs, moving to more sustainable packaging formats.

  • Zebra’s Z-Band® UltraSoft wristbands now feature cartridges made from ocean-bound plastic, diverting the equivalent of 16 plastic water bottles per cartridge from entering oceans.

Zebra is also looking ahead to regulatory shifts like the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements under the Green Deal. With their expertise in RFID, barcode, and scanning technology, they’re helping customers prepare for a future where every product has a digital record of its environmental impact, from sourcing to disposal.

Internally, Zebra publishes an annual ESG Report that outlines goals, progress, and areas for growth, maintaining transparency and accountability in their journey to a more sustainable operation.

One Ecosystem, Many Efforts

While we’re spotlighting Epson, Honeywell, and Zebra this Earth Day, they’re far from alone. Across our entire partner network, vendors are exploring new ways to reduce emissions, rethink materials, design with circularity in mind, and embrace renewable energy.

Sustainability isn’t a trend—it’s a transformation. And we’re proud to work with companies that aren’t just adapting to it, but helping shape what it looks like for the tech industry.

We’ll continue championing partners who bring purpose-driven innovation to the table. Because when sustainability and technology work together, the impact is exponential.