The International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, sets quality standards for various manufacturing processes. The ISO standard is comprehensive and touches on each aspect of the supply chain from raw source materials all the way to end-user delivery. While product defects are inevitable, the goal of ISO is continued improvement to limit any problems and constant work to improve the quality of outputs.

Buying an ISO-certified ink cartridge helps ensure that, while you are saving on your ink refills, you are not sacrificing quality standards.

Look For Ink Suppliers That Comply With ISO 9000 Certifications

The most common set of standards is the ISO 9001 standard which certifies a level of quality in manufacturer business operations, output improvement and product compliance. Ink manufacturers that are ISO 9000 certified have met a level of inspection quality that ensures quality control procedures; make sure to look for the ISO seal, especially when purchasing remanufactured ink cartridges as a safeguard for quality.

ISO 14000 Standards Protect The Environment

Similarly, the ISO 14000 environmental standards set an internationally accepted set of practices for environmental quality throughout the supply chain. ISO 14000 certified companies constantly work to limit the impact of their production on the environment, and seek out ways to streamline the impact of their by-products and factories. Since recycled and remanufactured ink cartridges allow for re-use of previously used cartridges, they can potentially cut down on environmental waste and landfill material, extending the life of the original materials. Purchasing recycled ink can provide ecological as well as economic benefits, and finding an ISO 14000-accredited supplier further ensures that both of those goals will be met.

Which Printer Ink Suppliers Are ISO Compliant?

4Inkjets - Their compatible and remanufactured cartridges are manufactured in an ISO 9001 compliant factory. Because of this, they offer a 1-year moneyback guarantee that their printer supplies will match or exceed brand-name counterparts.

123Refills - 123Refills also stocks a wide variety of ink cartridges that are certified ISO complaint, and provide a similar moneyback guarantee.

Both set of ISO standards share the same basic framework in focusing on quality throughout the supply chain from beginning to end. Nearly all classes of products and companies can obtain ISO-certification which is application independent, but has a particularly important use in improving transparency in the case of 3rd party products such as recycled ink. Just as the brand name on an OEM cartridge signals a level of reliability, so does ISO certification imply a level of standards for 3rd party ink solutions.