Why Green Printing Practices Are Important and How to Implement Them

Paper is one of the materials that contributes most to the growth of landfills. It is estimated that around 17 million tons of paper end up in landfills every year, and poor printing practices are among the leading causes.

If you want to fight paper waste pollution, you’ve come to the right place. This article will outline the importance of green printing practices and how to implement them in your office.

Why Does Sustainable Printing Matter?

Here’s why you should focus on sustainable printing in your workplace:

Protecting the Environment

There are multiple ways you can help save the planet by adopting sustainable printing. First, you reduce the amount of paper waste in landfills. Contrary to popular belief, plastic isn’t the worst polluter. This infamous title actually belongs to paper. If offices join forces to reduce their paper waste, they can make a world of difference.

Second, sustainable printing decreases the number of cartridges produced. Why are cartridges so harmful, you may ask? The reason is simple – every cartridge manufactured releases approximately 10 pounds of CO2. About 380 million cartridges are made per year, translating to nearly four billion pounds of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

Since green printing is about maximizing your resources, it also lowers the need to replace your cartridges frequently, resulting in less pollution.

Saving Money

Gone are the days when sustainable print-related products were rare and expensive. Nowadays, you can find them on every corner, making them more affordable than ever. In some cases, they’re cheaper than standard print equipment, allowing you to save money with every purchase.

Another way you can cut costs through sustainable printing is by applying for government incentives. The federal and state governments often provide incentives for buying environmentally-friendly office devices, including printers.

How to Implement Green Printing in Your Office

With these tips, setting up an eco-friendly office shouldn’t be a problem:

  • Use your paper more efficiently by using double-sided printing whenever possible. You can also decrease the margins for most documents without breaking any requirements to further reduce waste.
  • Avoid color printing unless it’s indispensable (e.g., business cards, brochures, flyers, and other marketing materials). Black and white printing works just fine in most cases and puts less pressure on your cartridge.
  • Buy Energy Star printers to lower electricity consumption.
  • Invest in multifunction printers to consolidate your printing, faxing, copying, and scanning.
  • Choose a printer-friendly format when printing emails or webpages. These formats only include images and text while eliminating ads and other elements that are only useful when browsing the content online.
  • Create print authorization processes to prevent unauthorized personnel from wasting paper.

Want to Elevate Your Sustainable Printing Office? Copylite Can Help

High-quality printer components can also help you set up a green office. They’re less likely to break down than poorly made models, reducing the need to replace them as often.

Copylite offers a bunch of these first-class products. Check out our assortment of the finest print and copy aftermarket products, all of which are fully functional and long-lasting.