Sustainability has become a major trend, not only in people’s homes, but in businesses as well over the last couple of decades. As more people begin to recognize the importance of reducing their environmental impact, consumers have begun to put more of an emphasis on buying from environmentally conscious businesses. Naturally, this has caused many businesses to start “going green” as well, hoping to attract these environmentally conscientious consumers. There are many ways that businesses can reduce their carbon footprints, from implementing recycling programs to switching their business fleets to electric vehicles. Sustainable printing is another important way that your business can be a little greener in your business practices. Keep reading to learn how you can use your copier machine in Fairbanks, AK, more sustainably.
The Environmental Impact of Traditional Printing
First, it’s important to understand just how traditional printing practices can impact our planet. While printing out documents on your company’s printer may not seem like it can hurt the environment, unsustainable printing practices can have many consequences.
Perhaps the most obvious impact of business printing is deforestation. The paper you put into your printer likely uses wood pulp, which contributes to the destruction of our forests and wildlife habitats. These pieces of equipment can also consume substantial amounts of energy every time you run them, and they create waste with every print job. Ink cartridges and toners contain chemicals that can be harmful if not disposed of properly. And, if you’re doing excessive, unnecessary printing, you’re creating excessive waste that’s being added to overflowing landfills.
Recognizing these potential impacts is an important step towards adopting more sustainable printing practices in your office.
Adopt a Print Policy to Reduce Waste
If you’re ready to print more sustainably, one of the first things you should do is to establish a print policy that helps minimize unnecessary printing. After all, the first of those 3 R’s is “reduce!” Some key strategies you can employ in this area include the following:
Double-sided printing to reduce paper usage
Setting default printing to black and white to reduce ink usage
Promoting digital document sharing and storage
Implementing access controls and print limits to reduce unnecessary print jobs
These are all small changes that are easy to implement, but that can have a big impact on the amount of ink/toner and paper your business uses.
Use Eco-Friendly Paper
Rather than using paper that relies on freshly harvested wood pulp, you can opt for eco-friendly paper that doesn’t contribute to deforestation. This can include recycled paper, which is primarily made from post-consumer recycled content; FSC-certified paper, which is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and being sourced from responsibly managed forests; and chlorine-free paper, which eliminates the use of harmful chlorine bleach during paper production and reduces pollution.
Switch to Energy-Efficient Printers
Now, let’s talk about the amount of power that your printer uses. There are many ways that you can cut down on your printer’s power consumption. For starters, look for a printer that’s Energy Star-certified. These printers consume less energy in both their standby and their active modes. Enable your printer’s automatic sleep mode so that the printer conserves energy when it’s not in use. Finally, be sure to shut down and unplug your printer entirely when your office will be closed for any significant amount of time to avoid any “energy vampirism;” this term refers to the slow drain of energy that any plugged-in device will use.
Use Sustainable Inks and Toners
Paper isn’t the only printing supply that can be more eco-friendly. You can also purchase more sustainable inks and toners. One interesting option to consider is soy-based or vegetable-based inks. These alternatives are less toxic than petroleum-based options and will decompose more easily. If that’s not appealing to you, look for refilled or remanufactured cartridges for your printers, and when your printer runs out of ink or toner, be sure to find a cartridge recycling program so that they can be reused or recycled appropriately.
Business Benefits of Sustainable Printing
Using these kinds of sustainable printing practices doesn’t just make you look good to your eco-conscious consumers. It offers many other benefits for your business as well:
Cost Savings: Reducing paper and ink consumption lowers your printing expenses, and energy-efficient printers cut down on your electricity bills.
Enhanced Social Responsibility: Sustainability initiatives strengthen your brand reputation as an environmentally conscious business, which can be appealing to both customers and investors.
Improved Employee Engagement: Many of your employees may be among those who have given more thought and care to making sustainable choices; encouraging sustainable practices in the workplace can help to create a culture of shared responsibility that employees can truly engage with.
Encourage Digital Alternatives
While very few businesses can actually achieve a completely paperless workplace, encouraging digital alternatives in your office can be a great way to reduce the amount of printing that your business does. Start encouraging customers and employees to use e-signatures and digital forms when possible, rather than printing all contracts for a physical signature. Use cloud-based collaboration tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive to share and edit documents without printing and reprinting them. Switch to an electronic invoicing and billing system if you can to decrease paper use, while also streamlining financial processes and saving you on the cost of postage.
How to Get Started with Sustainable Printing
So, are you ready to change the way your business prints to become more sustainable? The first step is to buy a copier in Fairbanks, AK, that aligns with your new printing goals. Call Arctic Office today, or stop by our showroom to learn more about the printers we have in stock and the sustainable features they can provide. We’ll help you find a printer that meets your needs and can help you achieve your goals to become a more sustainable, environmentally friendly business.
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