Green Inspired: New Business Emerges

Green Inspired: New Business Emerges

“I’m in New Jersey and I see what a landfill can become. I love New Jersey, but I’m right across the bay from one of the biggest landfills in the world,” said Dennis Fotopoulos. Don’t get him wrong, he’ll tell everyone of his love for NJ, but living just across the bay from the Fresh Kills Landfill, which stretches more than 2200 acres, Fotopoulos has had a firsthand look at what wasteful living can lead to. But he isn’t an environmental activist or a green extremist; he is a reseller with a passion for responsible business.

Many businesses today claim to be green at heart. However, how many of these companies are actually green…to their core? The cold truth: not many. “The focus is on the transaction and not really following through on educating the customer.” While many companies offer products that help customers be more environmentally responsible, they are not offering many incentives for choosing this path. This frustrating reality led Fotopoulos to establish Green Peak Imaging Solutions (GPIS), an alternative imaging supply company that provides eco-friendly imaging products such as toner, ink, printers, maintenance kits and fusers to home offices and businesses. Fotopoulos has a goal of becoming 100 percent landfill free, “It’s not easy. No matter what we do, some of it always ends up in a landfill. My goal and Green Peak Imaging Solutions’ goal is to be landfill free in three years or less and we’re going to achieve that.”

Right now, GPIS allows customers to order remanufactured products, as well as AgriTone^TM, a bio-based solution that provides an alternative to carbon-based toner, through their online portal. They also collect and reclaim old product for the purpose of remanufacturing and re-introduction into the home and corporate office ecosystems. Products that do not qualify as remanufacturing candidates are reduced to their raw materials for reuse in other manufacturing channels. Fotopoulos is offering incentives like buying back assets, paid shipping, purchasing discounts and a minimum of 15 percent store credit for returned cartridges to customers who wish to do all they can to have an eco-friendly business.

As for the future, Fotopoulos said he hopes to offer a complete solution for green IT initiatives—stating that MPS is on the horizon. “Green IT initiatives and MPS are not mutually exclusive of one another. The cost savings are great for someone who is committed to both.” And while he is currently focusing on the small-to-medium sized businesses in the Northeast region, anyone in the United States can order his supplies–ultimately he is open for business to anyone, especially those who are committed to their green IT initiatives.

“I think the passion, itself, comes from my drive not only to be eco-responsible personally and professionally within my company, but also to educate the customer to do what they can to reduce their own carbon footprint, by saving them money and showing them the benefits of truly green imaging products and solutions.”

Do you have a story to tell? Contact Misty Hamel, mhamel@photizogroup.com, and be featured on MPSInsights.com.

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