Switching from OEM printer cartridges to refilled versions could save UK households a combined £440m per year - survey

According to a new YouGov research study, commissioned by Environmental Business Products, UK Consumers Are Wasting a Combined £440m Buying Branded Printer Cartridges.

Major findings are that UK households:

• buy an average of 4.85 cartridges a year which (since each unit costs around £30, that is equivalent to an annual bill of £145.50)

• could each save £43.65 a year by switching to private-label products

• 10% of households buy 10 or more cartridges a year giving a potential saving of £90 each per year

• 81% of UK households have an inkjet printer, but…

• only 18% buy private-label retailer cartridges that are 25% to 35% cheaper than branded versions

• 66% say a cheaper price is likely to encourage them to switch from printer manufacturers cartridges to retailers’ versions

• 43% would be motivated to switch cartridges because of environmental credentials


These findings are significant. Each UK household could save on average £43.65 a year by switching to private-label products (private label products include compatible and remanufactured printer cartridges such as those sold by 123 Refills into the UK), and yet only 18% of households buy private-label (aftermarket compatible or remanufactured cartridges). The study was based on an estimated savings of only 25-25% compared to original brand cartridges, but retailers like 123 Refills save their customers even more (around 50% on average), so the savings are even more dramatic.

You can read more about this study here.