| With more and more businesses considering their | | | | think, and will go a long way in greening your |
| carbon footprint, green printing is becoming a | | | | green printing practices. The best type of paper is |
| popular consideration, offering businesses a chance | | | | chlorine-free paper with post-consumer fibre, while |
| to save the environment at the same time as | | | | for ink, low-polluting ink with a VOC content of |
| saving costs. Global warming and limited resources | | | | less than five percent, recycled inks or vegetable |
| are fast becoming a very scary reality, and with | | | | inks are the most eco-friendly options. |
| the continuously growing demands on paper and | | | | |
| other key supplies, forests and other natural | | | | - Use paper wisely, not carelessly |
| resources are in danger of being depleted to | | | | |
| meet the heavy demands of growing populations | | | | Wasted paper amounts for huge volumes of |
| and increased urban areas. | | | | resources being thrown out each year, and with |
| | | | | only a small percentage of offices recycling, all this |
| The good news is that with solutions such as | | | | paper is not being used at all. Try to email where |
| managed print services and eco-friendly practices, | | | | possible, print only what is needed, print on double |
| companies can lower their carbon footprints, and | | | | sides of the page and use programs such as |
| aim to address the balance – making smarter | | | | Adobe Reader to view your documents rather |
| choices for a greener future. | | | | than printing them out. |
| | | | | |
| Some of the top tips for green printing and office | | | | - Re-use and recycle |
| management include the following: | | | | |
| | | | | If you have to print documents, set up a |
| - Go local | | | | recycling bank and encourage departments to |
| | | | | deposit all unused paper into the bins. Sensitive |
| For companies who are printing out huge volumes | | | | documents can first be shredded, and then |
| of paper, especially in the case of educational | | | | recycled. Get creative, and find out if there are |
| institutions for instance, who print thousands of | | | | any organisations that require paper – |
| prospectus', brochures, newsletters and other | | | | pre-schools could use shredded paper for |
| items each term, going local and choosing a small | | | | instance, or a pile of scrap paper could be used |
| printing company that is as close to the premises | | | | for notes and re-use in the office. |
| as possible is the way to go. Make sure that the | | | | |
| printer follows eco-friendly practices and that they | | | | - Consider before formatting documents |
| following responsible printing guidelines to minimise | | | | |
| waste. | | | | Documents using gloss paper, or folders that have |
| | | | | plastic binders or cover sheets are not recyclable, |
| - Consider managed resource solutions | | | | while plain matt paper with only a staple can easily |
| | | | | be recycled once the staple has been removed. If |
| Managed print services are an excellent way to | | | | you plan to keep a document however, use |
| manage resources within your company, to get | | | | coated paper and keep the document safe in a |
| an accurate audit of the amount of ink and paper | | | | secure folder to make sure that you get |
| that is used, to ensure that each department | | | | maximum use from it rather than throwing it out |
| adheres to responsible printing practices, cutting | | | | after a few months. |
| down on waste and ultimately saving costs as | | | | |
| well as helping the environment. | | | | - Encourage staff, customers and business |
| | | | | partners to go green |
| - Use eco-friendly supplies | | | | |
| | | | | Add a ‘do not print' message to your emails, |
| Always ensure that your office prints with | | | | and show by example that green printing and |
| recycled paper and environmentally friendly inks. | | | | other green practices are the way to go. |
| These are much more accessible than you may | | | | |