Plant-based polymerised toners developed for the recycling-based society

1. Plant-based polymerised toners developed for the recycling-based society May 2010 • Simitri HD and Simitri Toners are the official names of Konica Minolta’s polymerised toners. • Biomass is a renewable organic resource made up of biological materials and excludes fossil fuels.

3. SimitriToner – the World’s First Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary Simitritonerwith biomass celebrates its 10th anniversary this year Simitri toner, first produced in 2000, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Simitri toner is a polymerized toner, researched and developed by Konica Minolta from early on with a focus on environmentally conscious emulsion polymerized technology. Its sales started in 2001, and production for all four colors began in 2002. This followed with the more advanced Simitri HD toner in 2006, which offers low temperature fusing with higher image quality. Now in its 10th year in 2010, Konica Minolta introduces Simitri HD+ (plus) toner, which combines high productivity with high image quality. History Start of production of Simitritoner, the world’s first* polymerized toner Start of sales of Simitritoner Start of production of Simitri toner’s 4 colors Start of production of Simitri HD toner which allows low temperature fusing Introduction of the further advanced Simitri HD+ toner 2000 2001 2002 2006 2010 * World’s first polymerized toner for a black & white digital MFP.

4. SimitriToner – the World’s First Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary Simitri toner with biomass continues to evolve Simitri toner continues to evolve; from the start of production of the first Simitri toner for the Sitios 7035 in 2000, followed by the Simitri HD toner for the bizhub PRO C6500 in 2006, and in its 10th year, the Simitri HD+ (plus) toner for the bizhub PRESS C8000 in 2010. Polymerized toner available from the Sitios 7035 Polymerized toner available from the bizhub PRO C6500 Polymerized toner available from the bizhub PRESS C8000

5. Simitri Toner with Biomass 9% 25% Biomass [% / bottle] Color/Mono Toner Single Function Printer/AIO Office MFP imagio MP 6001GP Production Printing Japan Only World Wide Area of Distribution 2009 2000 Introduction 8.400 t ?? CO² Reduction Contribution POSITIVE Carbon Neutral Viewpoint Very Limited

6. Simitri HD and Simitri Toner with Biomassreduce the impact on the environment. From early on, Konica Minolta has been focusing on an environmentally conscious polymerised toner through the research and development of emulsion polymerised technology. Simitri HD and Simitri toners offer the environmental benefits of low energy consumption during production, less energy consumption during use, and reduced CO2 emissions during disposal through the use of plant-based resources from a carbon neutral viewpoint, reducing the impact on the environment from the production, usage to disposal phases in various ways.

7. Konica Minolta has been using plant-based resources for Simitri HD and Simitri Toner since year 2000. Simitri HD and Simitri toners have been environmentally conscious toners, since the start of production in 2000, as approximately 9% of their resources are plant-based. Furthermore, all four colours – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black – have used plant-based resources from the start. All 4 colours have used plant-based resources since year 2000 !

8. Konica Minolta is already using Simitri HD and Simitri Toner with Biomass in many of our products. Simitri HD and Simitri toner have been widely used in a large number of Konica Minolta products*1 since 2001*2, from office MFPs, printers and production printing machines. *1 Excludes some products.*2Production started in 2000.

9. Konica Minolta uses plant-based resources to reduce CO2 from a carbon neutral viewpoint. Carbon Neutrality Through an Environmental Recycling Chain When copy paper is recycled, the toner is separated then burned. When it is not recycled, the paper and toner are burned together. Either way, the toner emits CO2 during burning. However, as plant-based resources absorb CO2 through photosynthesis before they become raw materials, the amount of CO2 absorbed will equal the amount emitted, so the Earth’s CO2 will not increase and remain neutral. This is called Carbon Neutrality. CO2 emitted when burning petroleum resources cannot be absorbed. Therefore, replacing some of the petroleum with plant-based resources will help reduce CO2 emissions. Next Page

10. Carbon Neutrality Through an Environmental Recycling Chain Petroleum Resources Only Photosynthesis during plant growth As the amount of CO2 emitted during burning is equal to the amount absorbed through photosynthesis, the Earth’s CO2 will not increase and remain neutral. CO2 absorbed Plant-based biomass resources CO2 emitted Only toner is burned Toner is burned with the paper Petroleum resources Next page De-Inking Paper is recycled Simitri toner Simitri HD toner with Biomass Toner used Reused as recycled paper

11. Petroleum Resources Only (No Chain) The amount of CO2 emitted during burning accumulates and continues to increase in the Earth’s atmosphere. Petroleum drilling at oil fields Petroleum resources CO2 emitted Toner is burned with the paper Only toner is burned De-Inking Paper is recycled Toner Toner used Reused as recycled paper

12. The amount of unused petroleum resources converts to a reduction of approximately 8,400 tonnes of CO2. Low-melting ester wax*1 is used in approximately 10% of Simitri HD and Simitri toners. It is oil-less and can be fused at lower temperatures, while providing enhanced image quality. And as approximately 90% of it is plant-based, it is less harmful to the environment. Currently*2, a total of approximately 30,000 tonnes of Simitri HD and Simitri toners have been supplied to the world, of which,approximately 9% or 2,700 tonnes are plant-based resources which have replaced petroleum-based resources. Therefore, theamount of CO2 emitted when burning used documents will convert to a reduction of approximately 8,400 tonnes*3 of CO2. *1Wax is an essential ingredient for toners as it has the ability to spread on the upper most layer of the toner during thermal fusing, preventing the paper from winding itself around the fusing roller, and preventing the image from deforming. *2As of January 2010. *3For petroleum-based polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) waxes, 3.127kg of CO2 is emitted for every 1kg burned (source: “2002 Guidelines for Calculation Method of Greenhouse Gas Emissions” by the Japan Ministry of the Environment). Therefore, 2,700 tonnes of plant-based resources x 3.127 ≈ 8,400 tonnes of reduced CO2.

13. 8,400 tonnes of CO2 is the total amount absorbed by a 40.9ha forest of broad-leaved trees (Age Class 10) since sprouting. Then how large is 8,400 tonnes of CO2? It is equal to the total amount absorbed by approximately 40.9ha of forest with Age Class 10*1 broad-leaved trees*2 since sprouting. As the area of the Beijing National Stadium which held the 2008 Olympic Games (also known as the Bird’s Nest) is approximately 6.97ha, this forest area is the equivalent to approximately 5.9 Bird’s Nest Stadiums. Approx. 40.9ha of broad-leaved tree forest = Approx. 5.9 Bird’s Nest Stadiums *1 Age Class is a system to classify a tree’s age in groups of 5 years. Age Class 1 trees are 1 to 5 years old, and Age Class 10 trees are 45 to 50 years old. *2 From “The (fixed) average amount of carbon absorbed by forest trees (trunks/branches/roots)” by the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (independent administrative agency). CO2 weight is measured by multiplying the amount of carbon absorbed by the broad-leaved trees over 45 to 50 years from sprouting by 44/12 (≈3.67). Age Class 10 broad-leaved trees absorb 56 tonnes of carbon per hectare. Thus, 56 tonnes/ha x 3.67 ≈ 205.5 tonnes of CO2/ha. Therefore, 8,400 tonnes of reduced CO2 ÷ 205.5 ≈ 40.9ha of broad-leaved tree forest.

14. 8,400 tonnes of CO2 is the total amount absorbed by a 40.9ha forest of broad-leaved trees (Age Class 10) since sprouting. Then how large is 8,400 tonnes of CO2? It is equal to the total amount absorbed by approximately 40.9ha of forest with Age Class 10*1 broad-leaved trees*2 since sprouting. As the area of a World Cup football pitch is approximately 0.71ha, this forest area is the equivalent to approximately 57.6 football pitches. Approx. 40.9ha of broad-leaved tree forest = Approx. 57.6 football pitches *1 Age Class is a system to classify a tree’s age in groups of 5 years. Age Class 1 trees are 1 to 5 years old, and Age Class 10 trees are 45 to 50 years old. *2 From “The (fixed) average amount of carbon absorbed by forest trees (trunks/branches/roots)” by the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (independent administrative agency). CO2 weight is measured by multiplying the amount of carbon absorbed by the broad-leaved trees over 45 to 50 years from sprouting by 44/12 (≈3.67). Age Class 10 broad-leaved trees absorb 56 tonnes of carbon per hectare. Thus, 56 tonnes/ha x 3.67 ≈ 205.5 tonnes of CO2/ha. Therefore, 8,400 tonnes of reduced CO2 ÷ 205.5 ≈ 40.9ha of broad-leaved tree forest.

15. Furthermore, the production methods of the toners have helped reduce harmful emissions by over 1/3. Simitri HD and Simitri toners are produced with a polymerisation process that uses less energy during production compared to toners produced by conventional pulverisation methods, thereby reducing harmful emissions such as CO2, NOx and SOx – the main causes of global warming and acid rain – by over 1/3.

16. Konica Minolta is the industry leader in producing polymerised toners which reduce the negative impact on the environment. Konica Minolta, which has quickly shifted from the previous pulverised to the more environmentally conscious Simitri HD and Simitri toners, is now the industry leader*1 in producing polymerised toners. Konica Minolta Industry as a whole 99.6% 96.5% 57.2% 13.3% Colour toners B/W toners Colour toners B/W toners Polymerised toners Pulverised toners *1Source: The estimated toner production for 2009 from the “2009 Toner Market Directory” by Data Supply Inc.

17. Not only that, Simitri HD toner’s outstanding low-temperature fusing reduces power consumption during machine use. Simitri HD toner requires less toner consumption compared to previous pulverised toners. Moreover, through an upgraded polymerisation technology that makes toner particles softer inside, it can be fused at temperatures 20° lower than the Simitri toner. Such benefits allow machines to operate more effectively, reducing power consumption while enhancing productivity at the same time. Reduced power consumption with Simitri HD toners

18. Simitri HD and Simitri toners will continue to evolve with the aim towards better environmental friendliness.