Multi-functional Devices (MFDs)
Buying Green website copy developed by the Responsible Purchasing Network for
the California Department of General Services
March 22, 2012
OVERVIEW
Multifunctional devices (MFDs) are imaging devices that combine operations such as
copying, printing, scanning and faxing into one machine. Compared to buying separate
equipment for each capability, choosing a multifunctional device is more economical and
environmentally sound.
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Less energy is required to power one device rather than several, which also reduces
power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide and other global warming gases.
It is much less expensive to purchase one machine that can perform most or all of
these capacities than to buy separate machines to do each one.
An MFD takes up far less space than several machines.
Multifunctional devices can ease the adoption of effective paper reduction practices
such as scanning documents to save electronically or send as email rather than
printing out copies on paper.
CONTRACTS
The CA Department of General Services (DGS) has negotiated 18 contracts identified
as "IT Hardware, Printers and Copiers." Within this collection are the following eight
contracts for Multifunctional Devices (MFDs).
The DGS contact is listed on each contract in the User Instructions document.
Contract Name: MFD Monochrome Low Volume (Printer Based)
Contract Number: 1-11-70-04I
Contract Name: Low Volume Monochrome MFD (Copier Based)
Contract Number: 1-11-70-04J
Contract Name: MFD Mono High Volume (Printer Based)
Contract Number: 1-11-70-04K
Contract Name: High Volume Monochrome MFD (Copier Based)
Contract Number: 1-11-70-04L
Contract Name: MFD Mono High Volume Ledger (Printer Based)
Contract Number: 1-11-70-04N
Contract Name: High Volume Monochrome MFD - Ledger (Copier Based)
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Contract Number: 1-11-70-04O
Contract Name: MFD Color High Volume (Printer Based)
Contract Number: 1-11-70-04P
Contract Name: High Volume Color MFD (Copier Based)
Contract Name: 1-11-70-04Q
Ordering Instructions - See individual contracts.
SPECIFICATIONS
Mandatory
All of the MFDs on these contracts meet the following mandatory specifications.
ENERGY STAR-qualified: Equipment must comply with current (version 1.1,
adopted on July 1, 2009) ENERGY STAR Imaging Equipment specifications and
subsequent updates. For more information, see CERTIFICATIONS [link]
Energy saving (sleep mode): Within 30 minutes of non-use, equipment must power
down when not in use.
Duplexing enabled: Equipment must be delivered pre-set to default to printing on
both sides of paper unless single-sided printing is chosen. Duplexing reduces paper
consumption, which saves money, as well as space requirements for paper file
storage.
No restrictions are allowed on recycling/remanufacturing of toner or ink
cartridges pursuant to Public Contract Code §12156. Also, remanufactured
consumables shall not void the equipment's warranty. In addition, vendor shall
maintain a Take Back Program for spent toner and ink cartridges.
Equipment must be RoHS-compliant: Vendor must declare that products are
compliant with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
Directive. The RoHS Directive sets limits toxic materials such as lead, cadmium,
mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and
polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in electronic equipment
such as printers, copiers and MFDs.
A strict limit (0.1%) is set on two highly toxic brominated flame retardants
(PBDEs) that are essentially banned in California.
Certification of recycled content: Vendors must certify, in writing, the minimum
postconsumer recycled content in each of the products and associated
shipping/packaging materials, and identify the recycled content in catalog listings.
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Product packaging and shipping materials shall contain at least the minimum postconsumer recycled content designated by the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign
(SABRC). Packaging shall be recyclable, easily deconstructed for recycling, and not
contaminated with non-recyclable stickers or inks.
Manufacturer's certification of recycled content materials is available with contract
documents as Attachment C.
Hazardous Materials Documentation: The vendor must supply a Materials Safety
Data Sheet (MSDS) upon request.
Warranties: Vendor must honor all manufacturer warranties and guarantees,
including those that extend beyond the contract term, if manufacturer warranty
continues beyond it.
Product Recall Procedures: Vendor shall provide recall notifications to all
purchasers of affected equipment and handle appropriate recall procedures.
Not Mandatory
Manufacturer's Environmental Management System (EMS): Vendors are
encouraged provide a signed declaration that the manufacturer meets the
requirements of the ISO 14001 standard or third-party certification for additional
scoring. The EMS shall include tracking and reporting of the manufacturer’s
progress toward meeting environmental goals and targets.
Indoor Air Emissions: Vendors are encouraged to provide evidence that their
equipment complies with the emission rates for total VOCs, ozone, and dust in
accordance with the EcoLogo or German Blue Angel criteria (see Certifications). The
EcoLogo certification incorporates by reference the Blue Angel certification.
Recyclable Packaging: The State prefers there to be no PVC plastic bags or films,
containers and corrugated boxes to be readily recyclable with no coatings or
substances such as wax that would inhibit recyclability, inks to be free of heavy
metals, packaging to contain at least 30% post-consumer materials as well as Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper with no chlorine processing.
Renewable and Biobased Materials: The manufacturer may declare in writing the
use of any renewable and biobased materials and its contents in product
components. Compostable packaging must meet ASTM D6400 (Standard
Specifications for Compostable Plastics).
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LAWS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES
Public Contract Code
PCC §12156 prohibits contractors from offering toner and ink cartridges that have
restrictions on their ability to be remanufactured or recycled.
PCC §12200 - 12217 - State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign
These codes establish the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) to carry
out the State’s intent to “pursue all feasible measures to improve markets for
recycled products.” They further require: “If fitness and quality are equal, each State
agency shall purchase recycled products instead of nonrecycled products whenever
recycled products are available at the same or a lesser total cost than nonrecycled
products.” It also directs each state agency to ensure that at least half of its
“reportable” products are recycled.
Vendors supplying the MFD contracts were required to certify, in writing, the
minimum or exact percentage of post-consumer recycled content material (PCRC) in
each of their products and associated shipping/packaging materials. The data is in
Attachment C for each contract.
California Code of Regulations (CCR)
CCR, Title 8, §339-340 requires vendors on State contracts to provide Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) when requested by the ordering agency.
CCR, Title 22, §66260.202 – Regulations on the Use of Heavy Metals in Covered
Electronic Equipment prohibits the sale of an electronic device if it contains one or
more heavy metals exceeding maximum concentration values established by the
European Union under its Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive
(202-95/EC) or as specified in a subsequent amendment to the Directive. For more
information, see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/rohs.cfm.
CCR, Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapter 23 - Standards for Universal Waste
Management
Health and Safety Code (HSC)
HSC §25214.11 - 25214.25 - Toxics in Packaging Prevention Act
California limits the amount of cadmium, lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium in
product packaging.
Laws
Limits on Toxic Flame Retardants in Electronics. AB 302 prohibits the sale of
products in the state of California that contain more than 0.1% pentaBDE or octaBDE.
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PentaBDE is a flame retardant that is sometimes added to plastics in electronic
components such as printed circuit boards. OctaBDE is a flame retardant that is
sometimes added to the plastic housing of electronic equipment. Both mixtures are
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that have been largely banned from industrial
production because of toxicity, persistence in the environment, and ability to concentrate
in the food chain. A report published by the California Office of Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), for example, explains that “polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDEs) were banned in California because they are found widely in wildlife
(including fish and seals in the San Francisco Bay), have been found to be toxic to animals,
and are chemically similar to other POPs (such as chlorinated dioxins) for which serious
human health effects have been documented.i
A copy of AB 302 can be accessed at ww.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_03010350/ab_302_bill_20030811_chaptered.html.
CERTIFICATIONS
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.
Department of Energy to promote the purchase of equipment that improve energy
efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Products meeting its specifications can
qualify to display the ENERGY STAR symbol on their products. All imaging equipment on
these State contracts is ENERGY STAR-qualified.
EcoLogo, a third-party organization based in Canada, published a multi-attribute
Certification Criteria Document for Office Machines (CCD-035) in 2009. It references the
German Blue Angel Program’s criteria document for Office Equipment for Printing Function
(RAL-UZ 122). Both organizations certify imaging equipment (including MFDs) that do not
exceed specified maximum emission rates for total volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
ozone, and dust. Both standards also include energy-efficiency criteria and other
requirements.
Certification by EcoLogo or Blue Angel is not mandatory for the MFD contracts, but is a
positive indicator of environmental benefits when present. All the current MFD contracts
meet these criteria.
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BUYING TIPS
The Buyers Laboratory Buying Tips provide a very helpful overview of factors to consider
when choosing printers, copiers, and multifunction devices (which they call “multifunction
products” or MFPs). While several of the Buying Tips topics have already been addressed in
the State’s contracts (e.g., how to negotiate the best deal, payment options), others will help
purchasers choose between the different types of devices available on the State’s contracts.
Buyers Lab, Inc. (BLI) is an independent laboratory that tests provides guidance on
purchasing and using imaging equipment.
The BLI website offers a concise overview of the sustainability factors buyers should
consider when choosing imaging equipment. These include energy and paper usage,
product manufacturing and end-of-life impacts, and the chemical composition, emissions
and waste associated with the machine’s toner or ink. For more information, go to
http://www.buyerslab.com/Advisor/Copier-Buying-Guide/Appendix/Sustainability. In
addition, attached is a table summarizing the environmental attributes of the eight MFDs
offered on VA DGS contracts, including each machine’s energy usage when on and in “sleep”
modes, cartridge yield, duplexing capability, etc. [LINK]
The CA MFD contracts feature two options for each equipment category: one is a printerbased MFD and the other is a copier-based MFD. It is important to determine which is most
appropriate for your agency's needs before making your purchase.
Printer-Based vs. Copier-Based MFDs - Overview
 Printers and copiers were originally designed on very different technology
platforms, but the most useful features of one are now frequently migrating to the
other as well. Whether intended projects are more likely to require copying versus
printing capabilities will help inform which type of MFDs to buy.
 Carefully assess your office’s realistic needs to avoid buying “too much machine.”
Functions (e.g., faxing) that are rarely needed, or might only “possibly” be needed in
the future, may be better met with occasional access to another machine rather than
building it into every imaging machine that is purchased.
 Printer-based MFDs tend to replace single-function printers. They also offer light
copier capabilities, but heavier copier needs would probably be better met by a
copier-based MFD.
 Both printer-based and copier-based MFDs can be networked so that many users
can access the same equipment, thereby reducing energy use, and minimizing
multiple machine clutter. .
 Evaluate each MFDs control panel to ensure that it is appropriate for your office’s
use and likely staff training level. Copier-based MFDs tend to have larger and more
complex control panels because they usually are built to handle more complex
operations than printer-based MFDs.
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Printer-Based MFDs
 Provide finer print quality and may be the best choice if most projects are short, and
don’t require complicated finishing requirements (such as binding).
 Use less energy than copier-based MFDs.
 Cost less initially, are likely to have a smaller footprint, and may not require
scheduled maintenance.
 Use ink or toner cartridges that can be easily changed by the machine’s user. Some
printer-based devices use a cost-effective "dual component solution" for replacing
toner cartridges. Rather than replacing the drum every time new toner is required,
the two components can be changed at different intervals, which results in longer
drum life and saves money, according to BLI. The State’s MDF contracts K, N and P
offer this option.
Copier-Based MFDs
 Are likely to be the best choice if projects tend to be long or complicated.
 Often handle a greater range of paper sizes and typically offer more complex
finishing options for projects (e.g., binding).
 May need oversight by more highly-trained staff than printer-based devices because
they are designed to handle more complicated projects,
 Generally require a supplemental contract for ongoing maintenance because their
“consumables” (e.g., toner refills, fusers, drums) often cannot be easily replaced by
users, although these items often cost less than those for printer-based devices.
The number of pages the machine is likely to produce each month helps identify the most
appropriate choice to meet an office’s needs. Manufacturers call this volume the machine’s
“duty cycle.” Check Buyers Lab's Optimum Monthly Volume chart for their assessment of
reasonably expected volumes per device category. According to BLI, the manufacturers’
published duty cycle should be considered the outer limit of what could be produced each
month, and counsels users to expect the equipment to operate optimally if it produces
considerably less.
The State’s bid process required bidders to provide the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for
each machine offered, and that information was considered in the bid evaluation process.
Each contract’s Attachment A lists costs for each machine’s options, consumables,
maintenance and warranty contracts.
While all the MFDs on the State contracts can have fax capacity, several do not have it
automatically installed, even if the manufacturer’s website says that they do. [DISCUSS
WITH DGS] DGS determined that the demand for faxing was not large enough to justify the
added cost and complexity in all the machines. Some of the MFDs on contract do include a
fax. For the others, Attachment A – Contract Pricing details the cost and ordering
information for adding fax capacity.
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Since MFDs have more moving parts than single-function printers or copiers, they may
need maintenance more often. All State contracts for printers, copiers and MFDs require
next-business-day (NBD) service, when necessary, which should minimize disruptions.
Staff training is essential for optimum use of MFDs. Because they incorporate multiple
functions into one machine, users may need to become familiar with how they are different
from previous single-function machines they may have used. Lack of training may lead
users to mistakenly assume that the machine does not perform adequately, and may waste
paper and toner.
Make sure staff is trained to which papers to use for different printing and copying
functions (and ensure that your imaging equipment works well with recycled-content
paper. A successful approach to “good paper tray management” is to set up the MFD with
20 lb. recycled-content white copy paper in the main paper tray, to be used for most
printing and copying jobs. Supplemental trays might include legal-size, letterhead or
heavier presentation papers (such as 24 lb. or 28 lb.), depending on the types of projects
most often produced on the equipment. The heavier presentation papers require more
wood fiber (causing greater environmental impacts and costing more money), so they
should be used sparingly, if at all.
Using Draft settings will produce readable non-final copies that minimize toner use.
Standard printing/copying settings can be used for final printouts. Several pages of a multipage document can be consolidated onto one printed or scanned page in order to save
paper and reduce environmental impacts.
The vendor contacts can provide environmental testing results from Buyers Laboratory on
each device, if requested. The vendor contact person is listed in the User Instructions
document.
Some imaging equipment may qualify for U.S. Green Business Council LEED for existing
buildings operations and maintenance (EBOM) credits if it contains recycled-content
materials, although LEED standards specifically for MFDs were not available when the
contracts were developed. Using recycled content copy paper and remanufactured toner
cartridges also qualifies for LEED EBOM credits.
Equipment and Cartridge End-of-Life Management and Recycling
Each Vendor provides a “Takeback” Program for spent toner and ink cartridges. However,
an agency can use a different cartridge recycling program, if desired, including those
offered by the toner and ink cartridge vendors on other State contracts. All the machines
can use remanufactured cartridges.
The State Agency procedure for handling MFDs and other imaging equipment offered on
this contract involves:
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Obtaining approval for discarding Universal Waste from the DGS Procurement
Division's Surplus Property Reutilization Program.
Exploring reutilization of surplus IT equipment prior to requesting approval for
disposal or attempting to use the equipment as a credit toward the purchase or
lease of new equipment.
Arranging to remove and retain data storage media such as hard disk drives.
Contacting the vendor for the process to follow for their Take Back Program.
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
Buyers Laboratory Buying Tips for Multi-Function Products
How a Product Earns the ENERGY STAR Label
Toner and Ink Cartridges section of the CA DGS Buying Green website
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), Polybrominated
Diphenyl Ethers: Recommendations to Reduce Exposure in California, A Report of the
Cal/EPA PBDE Workgroup, February 2006;
http://www.oehha.ca.gov/pdf/PBDEWrkgrpRptFeb06.pdf.
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