There’s no better time to start sustainable printing than right now.Businesses from various industries use over six million tonnes of paper and paperboard, but only 25% of it ends up being recycled—consciously switching to more eco-friendly printing practices could have a bigger impact than you realize.Keep reading to learn more about these practices and how to implement them!

Printing’s Impact on the Environment

Printing relies on two things: natural resources and energy, both of which are non-renewable. The process also leads to enormous paper waste. All these contribute to climate change, making our planet less hospitable for future generations.Some examples of what’s happening include:

• Businesses releasing air pollutants during paper production
• Paper is being thrown in the trash instead of recycling bins
• Ink and toner containing toxic chemicals are being disposed of improperly, damaging the environment and putting animals at risk

You have a responsibility to do your part. Lessen your company’s environmental impact now by practicing the following five sustainable printing processes!

1. Triple-Check Files Before Printing

How many times do you check your files before printing? Not proofreading and missing mistakes can force you to reprint, which is a huge waste of money and resources. Taking a little extra time to review can go a long way toward saving the planet!✅ Pro-Tip: When your gut tells you something is wrong, it’s usually right. Look for grammatical and spelling errors, then fact-check all data included to ensure everything is correct the first time around. Don’t forget to include license-free imaging, too.

2. Use Recycled Paper When Possible

Another eco-friendly printing tip worth applying in the office is using recycled paper. When printing documents you’ll only use in the workspace, why not use scratch paper? They don’t have to be perfect if they’re not client-facing!✅ Pro-Tip: Instead of shredding one-sided paper sheets, keep them in a box near the printer for later use. This is a great way to increase your business sustainability!

Image Source: Canva

3. Embrace Print Vendor Consolidation

Part of environmentally friendly printing is staying on top of your printed materials, which often come from various suppliers. However, this necessitates more delivery trucks and can lead to over-buying items that will eventually go unused or get thrown out.Reduce waste and costs through print vendor consolidation, the practice of sourcing everything you need from one or fewer vendors. Streamlining your supply chain will save you money and reduce your business’s carbon footprint!✅ Pro-tip: Ask your supplier if can switch to soy-based inks for a greener option. Unlike the more common petroleum-based inks, these are plant-based alternatives that do not harm the environment nearly as much. They’re also cheaper while somehow producing brighter and more vivid images—they’re sustainable printing at its best!

4. Switch to FollowMe Printing

FollowMe printing (a.k.a. pull printing) is an eco-friendly printing practice that streamlines your operations. Every print job you start is sent to a server that’s accessible by all your organizations’ printers, allowing you to then print where more convenient.This managed print service is great for reducing waste, as it limits instances in which someone prints something to the wrong printer. You’d be surprised by just how much paper is wasted in a year from these kinds of simple mistakes!✅ Pro-tip: Outfit your office or business with multifunction printers that can handle a wide variety of copy, scan, fax, and print jobs. This will ensure that whichever device you choose via the FollowMe system is capable of completing the task.

Image Source: Canva

5. Store Your Documents Digitally

If your business still prints and stores everything in filing cabinets, it’s time to start switching to a more digital-oriented system. It can be challenging to handle on your own, but digital document management services exist and can help.This is a managed print service that tracks, stores, and manages all your files digitally. It reduces waste, improves security, and makes it easier to access and retrieve documents—no more digging through giant stacks of paper.✅ Pro-tip: Once you get your document management system up and running, you can turn your old documents into recycled paper for eco-friendly printing!

Refine Your Sustainable Printing Process With Integr8

Environmental printing can have a huge impact. You make a huge difference as a business if you’re willing to employ new processes and habits, and Integr8 is here to help make the transitions seamless across the board.It’s easy to produce sustainable printed material with our reliable managed print services. Whether you’re looking to streamline your supply chain or your print jobs in the office, we have what you need to seamlessly adopt eco-friendly printing practices.Contact us today to think green and make the switch!