Looking to make your office more environmentally friendly? Sustainable printing practices are a great place to start. While the average office worker uses over 10,000 sheets of paper annually, today’s innovative printing methods make it easier than ever to reduce waste and save on printing costs. Let’s explore how your business can embrace smarter, greener printing solutions.
Why sustainable printing matters
What is eco-friendly printing? In a nutshell, sustainable printing practices are methods that minimise environmental impact through the efficient use of resources.
Sustainable printing offers multiple benefits beyond environmental protection. Organisations that implement eco-friendly printing practices often see significant reductions in operational costs through lower resource consumption.
Many businesses also find that sustainable printing methods naturally complement their organisation’s principles and boost workplace culture. Staff, partners, and customers appreciate companies that take practical steps to reduce their environmental impact.
Our top 5 green printing solutions
1. Smart equipment choices
Today’s eco-friendly printers have revolutionised office sustainability. Take modern multifunction devices, for example. They do the work of several machines and use less energy than running separate printers, scanners, and copiers.
Leading manufacturers are developing innovative solutions to reduce waste. Epson’s EcoTank printers use refillable ink tanks that eliminate the need for about 30 cartridges per employee each year.
Brother specialises in an environmentally friendly printer series featuring smart airflow systems that significantly reduce power consumption.
Looking for an even more sustainable option? Consider a refurbished printer. These quality-tested machines can slash your costs by up to 50% while preventing working equipment from ending up in landfills. At Copysonic, we thoroughly test every refurbished printer and provide ongoing support to ensure reliable performance.
2. Sustainable materials
The supplies you choose for your printing can make a big difference to the environment. Small changes in your paper and ink choices add up to big benefits over time, especially in a busy office. Here’s what to look for:
- Recycled or FSC-certified eco-friendly paper.
- Vegetable-based, non-toxic, eco-friendly inks.
- Refillable cartridges.
3. Optimise your settings
Here’s a secret: your printer’s settings can make a world of difference in both waste reduction and printing costs. Most modern printers come with eco-friendly features built right in – you just need to know where to look.
- Turn off banner pages – Settings > Advanced > Uncheck ‘Banner Page’
- Print double-sided – Print > Properties > Select ‘Two-sided printing’
- Use draft mode – Print > Properties > Quality > Select ‘Draft’
- Print preview – Press Ctrl+P > Click ‘Preview’ before printing
Note: Your printer menu might look slightly different, but the options will be similar.
4. Consider print management software
Print management software helps you understand and control your office printing habits. By tracking who prints what and when, you can identify areas to cut waste and reduce costs.
These systems let you set printing rules, like defaulting to black and white or double-sided and can show you detailed reports about paper and ink usage. Some software even lets employees release their print jobs by swiping their ID cards at the printer, preventing forgotten printouts from piling up.
While it might seem like a small change, businesses often see significant savings within months of installing print management tools.
5. Hardware recycling
Offices across Australia have built excellent habits to recycle paper. This has a huge impact. Still, we can have an even greater impact on the environment by recycling our printer parts as well.
Major printer manufacturers now offer comprehensive recycling programs that make it simple to responsibly dispose of old equipment. These programs ensure that working parts are repurposed and materials are properly recycled, keeping harmful electronics out of landfills.
When you upgrade your printing equipment, ask about recycling options. Our partner brands provide easy-to-use recycling services for their hardware, and our team can help coordinate the collection and recycling of your old equipment.
Copysonic: your home for eco-friendly printers
Every office has different printing needs – that’s what we’ve learned from 30 years in the business. Our experienced team can help you navigate eco-friendly printing options, from high-end multifunction devices to quality refurbished printers.
Chat with one of our friendly technicians today by calling 1300 159 814.
