Home printers have not exactly been hailed as eco-friendly; between the cords, the printer cartridges and the plastic casings, they have plenty of parts that contribute to landfill waste. In fact, many cities have banned them from landfills, asking users to instead participate in recycling programs.

A new Samsung printer in the prototype phase could make that recycling effort even simpler — and it certainly scores points in the “eco-friendly” category. The Origami, a 100 percent recyclable personal printer, was a Gold Award winner at the 2013 IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards) competition.

The foldable printer, made from recycled corrugated cardboard, is completely functional and promises the same level of durability provided by traditional plastic covers. Designers say that the strength of the cardboard comes from the way it is cut and then folded in sequence to provide a case for the electronic printing engine.

Even better, according to its creators, the Origami can be completely recycled when it reaches the end of its usefulness — presumably to make more paper.

The idea for the Origami struck designer Seungwook Jeong while he was at a donut shop. As he watched how the pastries were packaged to keep them secure until they reached their destination, he realized that a similar concept could be applied to electronics — and could save money from both a manufacturing and a consumer standpoint.

Although the Origami is still in the prototype phase, its recent win at the IDEA competition and subsequent coverage has created enough buzz that some industry insiders are speculating that it will appear on shelves before long.

Homepage photo: Samsung