Going Green: Sustainable Printing Practices for Your Columbus Office
Printing is a major part of business and a common way to promote your company, but it can also be a significant contributor to environmental pollution. Sustainable printing practices are an essential part of any business that prints on paper. If you want to do more for the Earth than just recycling old products, optimizing your printing methods will help.
This post will guide your business in Columbus toward more sustainable choices, from equipment to supplies.
What is Green Printing?
Green printing is a method of printing that maximizes the use of renewable energy and natural resources.
Green printing focuses on two main areas:
- Eco-Friendly Materials: Using materials like soy, vegetable, or other plant-based inks for your printers, as well as paper made from recycled content with 100% post-consumer fibers.
- Process Efficiency: Making sure all materials used arenโt harmful to the environment by reducing waste during production, limiting hazardous chemicals, and conserving water usage.
4 Green Printing Practices for Your Office
To start incorporating these techniques into your business, itโs best to start small when looking at what can make a big difference.
1. Choosing the Right Printer (Lease for Efficiency)
Using modern, energy-efficient equipment is the first step. Newer models often have features specifically designed to consume less power.
- Energy Efficiency: Reconsider printers that use lesser power or are more efficient. Using these printers will use less ink (per page) and energy and produce fewer harmful particles.
- Multifunctionality: Modern multifunction printers (MFPs) are often energy-star rated and are significantly more efficient than running several single-function devices (copier, printer, scanner). You can easily access these efficient machines through a flexible copier lease in Columbus.
2. Print Only the Necessary Documents
This is the fastest way to save both money and resources. Printing only the necessary documents drastically helps reduce how much paper is consumed in your home or your office.
- Digital First: Avoid printing emails and drafts you donโt need to save on a hard drive.
- Double-Sided Default: If you are printing documents with text, it will consume less ink and paper if they are double-sided rather than single-sided. This also applies to presentations or reports.
3. Green Printing Supplies
Many environmentally friendly printing supplies are available on the market.
- Toner/Ink: Look for soy-based ink containing less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than traditional inks.
- Paper: Eco-friendly paper is the best way to go for going green. You can buy 100% post-consumer fiber in either a coated or uncoated version, which means itโs made from recycled content.
4. Implement Proper Waste Management
To go green, you must have a proper waste management system in place.
- Cartridge Recycling: The best way to manage waste is recycling for printer ink cartridges and toner: collect them and send them back to the company for a rebate or replacement cartridge. The nationwide network of Clear Choice Technical Services often assists clients with these green return programs.
- Paper Recycling: Itโs essential to recycle every scrap of paper after use rather than throwing them away into landfill sites where dangerous chemicals can contaminate the groundwater.
Digital Printing: The Ultimate Alternative
If youโre not into traditional printing, digital printing (or digital document storage) is the ultimate way to go. Itโs eco-friendly and can be used for various purposes like business cards, brochures, posters, or invitations. This method is worthy of consideration, especially if you only print in small amounts.
For temporary needs while your office transitions to digital, a short-term rental is a sustainable option.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Ready to find the perfect copier for your Columbus office?
Whether you need a short-term copy machine rental (less than one year) or a long-term copier lease (one year and up), the experts at Copier Lease Columbus are here to help. We are a trusted local provider, backed by the nationwide network of Clear Choice Technical Services.
Get a fast, personalized quote based on your specific needs and volume requirements.
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