Epson UK Calls for Long-Term Green Investment Incentives to Boost Industrial Competitiveness
LONDON – November 26th 2025 – Following the latest budget announcement, Duncan Ferguson, Managing Director of Epson UK has expressed disappointment at the lack of long-term incentives for businesses investing in green technology.
“Strengthening the UK’s industrial competitiveness requires more than short-term stimulus; it calls for long-term incentives that reward businesses investing in cleaner, smarter, and more efficient technologies and supply chains. We would have appreciated the introduction of a tax relief or enhanced capital allowances for companies that adopt low-carbon manufacturing and energy-efficient systems in today’s budget. By doing so, the Chancellor could have accelerated the transition to a net-zero economy, strengthen UK industrial competitiveness, and boost investment confidence.”
“This approach would be particularly impactful for the UK’s textiles sector, where reshoring and nearshoring are vital to building resilience and reducing environmental impact. Supporting manufacturers who invest in digital and sustainable production methods would enable a new generation of local, agile businesses to thrive, cutting waste, reducing transport emissions, and revitalising regional economies.”
“Epson’s Monna Lisa direct-to-fabric printer range is a prime example of the technologies driving this shift. By combining pigment-ink chemistry with energy-efficient, water-saving design (compared with analogue equivalents), it allows textile producers to print directly onto fabric in a single process, eliminating many of the resource-intensive stages associated with traditional dye-based printing. The result is a production model that supports on-demand, just-in-time manufacturing, enabling UK firms to minimise wasted stock and take control of their supply chains while simultaneously meeting their sustainability goals.”
“Beyond textiles, advances in robotics and automation are reshaping the circular economy. Robots are no longer confined to repetitive factory tasks; they are being reprogrammed to sort materials, assist in repair and refurbishment, and even disassemble products for reuse. By encouraging investment in these adaptable automation systems, fiscal policy can drive efficiency and sustainability hand-in-hand - while creating skilled jobs and new industrial capabilities.”
He emphasised that such measures are crucial for strengthening the UK’s industrial competitiveness and accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy.
Ferguson argues that while short-term stimulus is helpful, lasting growth requires policies that reward companies for adopting cleaner, more efficient technologies and supply chains.
He noted the absence of new tax relief or enhanced capital allowances for businesses implementing low-carbon manufacturing and energy-efficient systems as a missed opportunity.
The impact of this policy gap is particularly significant for the UK’s textiles sector, where reshoring and nearshoring are essential for building supply chain resilience and reducing environmental footprints.
Supporting manufacturers who invest in digital and sustainable production would enable a new generation of agile, local businesses to thrive, cutting waste and revitalising regional economies.
He stressed that fiscal policies encouraging investment in these adaptable automation systems could drive both efficiency and sustainability, creating skilled jobs and new industrial capabilities in the process.
About Epson UK
Epson UK is a leading provider of innovative printing solutions, committed to advancing professional printing technology whilst promoting sustainable practices.
The company delivers cutting-edge products that meet the evolving needs of businesses across multiple industries, combining superior performance with environmental responsibility
About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world.
The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle.
Epson's goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.
