Demand for compatible and remanufactured cartridges in Europe remains significant, but it is squeezed by OEM chips and firmware, patents and new sustainability rules.
Europe is one of the most mature markets for non-OEM consumables, and it enters 2026 under pressure. According to ETIRA, the European trade association for the sector, non-OEM products account for roughly 20-25% of the around 120 million toner cartridges sold in Europe each year. Remanufactured units make up an estimated 5-15% of the 300-350 million inkjet cartridges sold across EMEA.
That demand has a simple basis. First-quality compatible and remanufactured cartridges give businesses a choice on cost and sustainability.
The pressures on the market
The first pressure is technical. OEM authentication chips and firmware updates can flag or disable third-party cartridges, and control over technical information decides whether an empty shell can be reused at all.
The second is patents. European courts continue to act against infringers, which is why the legal distinction matters. Legitimate compatibles and remanufactured cartridges respect patents, while illegal single-use “clones”, as ETIRA warns, are often sold below production cost and expose buyers to poor quality, hazardous plastics and litigation.
The third is sustainability rules. The EU’s Right to Repair Directive and the Ecodesign framework push the market toward reuse, repair and interoperability.
What comes next
The market will likely consolidate around quality and compliance. Buyers will look for suppliers who can show that a cartridge is legal, tested to page-yield standards such as ISO/IEC 19752 and 19798, and properly supported.
Ergonet is an authorised reseller of major OEM brands with authorised service, and supplies first-quality compatible and remanufactured consumables. Customers choose the right cartridge for each printer based on what they need.
Source: ETIRA