Sainsbury’s Wins Green IT Award with Innovative Two-Sided Thermal Printer

UK retailer expands availability of NCR two-sided receipt printers to 7,000 checkouts

LONDON – Leading UK food retailer Sainsbury’s has won the European Retail Solutions Best Green IT Initiative Award 2008 for its move to using innovative, simultaneous two-sided thermal receipt printers from NCR Corporation (NYSE:NCR) in its store checkouts.

Last year Sainsbury’s became the first European retailer to start using the new printers, which use over 40 percent less paper. Printing on both sides of the receipt simultaneously not only saves paper, but also the energy associated with producing and transporting it. Fewer stoppages are required for paper roll changes. Further, because receipts are shorter, they take less time to print, which means consumers get through checkouts even faster and leave with a more manageable receipt.

Sainsbury’s has received such a positive response from customers and staff that it has more than doubled its order for the new printers from NCR. By the end of 2008, consumers will be receiving the two-sided receipts from 7,000 checkouts in approximately half of Sainsbury’s 823 stores nationwide. This will result in a savings of 502,000 paper rolls per year – cutting receipt paper usage at the retailer by around two-fifths.

“Improving the performance of store equipment is just one means by which Sainsbury’s is reducing its environmental impact,” said Sainsbury’s Information Technology Director Angela Morrison. “I’m delighted that our efforts have been recognized with the European Retail Solutions Best Green IT Initiative Award.”

The NCR two-sided printer consumes less power than other well known, single-sided receipt printer brands. Sainsbury’s plans to install the printers in the rest of its stores over the next two years. This will play a role in helping the retailer achieve its new target to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2012.

Sainsbury’s also is committed to responsible sourcing of paper. The receipt paper – supplied by NCR – is produced from sustainable managed sources, originating from: wood plantations, regulated forests, recycled saw mill waste and arboreal debris. Beyond this, Sainsbury’s became the first major UK retailer to sell 100 percent recycled own-brand printer paper in 2007 and its entire range of private label facial tissue, paper towels and toilet tissue has been made from FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) wood fiber from sustainable sources.

“NCR is continuing its legacy of retail technology innovations with the industry’s first two-sided receipt printer, which helps to ensure environmentally responsible companies, such as Sainsbury’s, are able to reduce waste while increasing customer service levels,” said Giovanni Bandi, NCR’s Retail and Hospitality Solutions vice president for Europe.