In this Article
With sustainability now firmly at the top of corporate agendas, every aspect of an organization’s operations finds itself under the spotlight. One function that receives particular attention is printing, simply because it is one area where sustainability gains can be made quickly and efficiently.
The good news is that there are several ways in which your organization can implement more eco-friendly printing practices. We’ve compiled this list of five of the best to help you get started.
1. Make The Right Paper Choices
Eco-friendly printing starts by making the right choices when it comes to consumables; the obvious one being paper. Fortunately, there are a number of environmentally friendly paper choices out there, you just need to decide which one you’ll use.
Try to choose paper that is recycled and manufactured using chlorine-free methods or paper that is FSC-certified. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, which is an organization that seeks to protect and promote sustainable forests worldwide. FSC-certified paper has been produced using environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable practices.
2. Use Eco-Friendly Inks
As their name suggests, eco-friendly inks are gentler on the environment. They are often vegetable-based, made from soy, algae, linseed, cottonseed, and China wood oils. And because they do not contain petroleum oil, eco-friendly inks help to reduce our reliance on our planet’s natural resources.
Perhaps the most interesting fact about eco-friendly inks is that they are not a new invention. In fact, they have been around since the early 1970s, when petroleum was suddenly in short supply, so you can rest assured that eco-friendly inks are tried and tested.
3. SEAL Systems’ Secure & PickUp Printing
Another effective way to improve the sustainability of your organization’s printing is to implement a dedicated output management solution.
SEAL Systems’ Secure & PickUp Printing is a pull printing solution which requires business users to authenticate themselves – usually by scanning an RFID tag – on a printer before they can receive their output.
This solution affords a number of benefits, including:
- Reduced paper and toner waste as printouts don’t get forgotten or left behind
- Better security as output is not left on a printer for anyone to pick up
- Greater user flexibility because print jobs can be picked up from anywhere
- Less admin and maintenance for your IT teams as they don’t have to support multiple local printers
All of these benefits feed into your overall sustainability goals, while
[Related reading: How To Establish Sustainable Manufacturing Practices]
4. Recycle and Repurpose
The simple acts of recycling and repurposing can also significantly boost your eco-friendly printing credentials. Start with the basics like ensuring there are paper recycling facilities near your printing equipment. Then, look at ways to recycle ink and toner cartridges as well, which can often be recycled up to six times.
Printing equipment itself can also be recycled and repurposed. Printers contain valuable materials that can be used to make new products, which is why there are many printer recycling companies around. Alternatively, consider donating your old printing equipment to a local school or charity, who will be able to give it a new lease of life.
5. Choose energy-efficient equipment
Even though they achieve the same outcomes, not all printers do so with the same efficiency. Part of the printing process involves the equipment melting the toner onto the paper, which requires a significant amount of heat. Some equipment achieves this at much lower temperatures, meaning it uses less power in the process.
So look for printer models that are more energy efficient and consume less power. Not only will these devices help you save on your electricity bill, but they will also help save the environment, too.
Begin Your Eco-Friendly Printing Journey Today
There are many ways in which you can implement more eco-friendly printing practices, most of which are easy and don’t require a significant investment.
If you’d like to find out more about SEAL Systems Secure & PickUp Printing, contact us today so one of our experts can discuss your individual situation and needs.