It’s a fact. Sustainability is top of mind for consumers. According to recent studies, the majority of people consider sustainability when making a purchase: from fashion to food, cosmetics, and even the pharmaceuticals sector, the consumer preference for sustainability is driving entire industries to change. COVID-19 has only made everyone more aware of their priorities and of the importance of making smarter choices for a better future. In fact, many of us are trying to live a greener lifestyle, using less of the planet’s resources in our everyday life. And green printing is one way to contribute.
But how do you print sustainably? In this post, we want to share some sustainable printing practices that you can implement for more ethical printing decisions, whether at home or in the office.
Print on Both Sides of the Page
The easiest and perhaps oldest trick in the book to reduce paper usage is using double-sided printing. This ensures that you cut your paper use nearly in half. Not only does it save the company and the individual money, but it also helps eliminate resource utilization and has positive environmental impacts related to forestry and landfilling waste paper.
Employ Smart Printing Features
A smart printer integrates with your network and incorporates smart printing features. These are ones that let you have more control over your printing process, thus ensuring responsible printing. These features include double-sided printing, page range, print quality, resolution, etc. Today, almost all printers available on the market feature smart printing options. But some manufacturers have gone a step further and have created applications that allow you to print wirelessly directly from your mobile phone, while still having access to smart printing features. The Mopria Print Service app gives Android users the ability to locate and connect to printers on the same Wi-Fi network as their device, whether at work, at home, or on the go so you can be printing sustainably wherever you are.
Use Recycled Paper
When it comes to paper communications, recycled paper is the greenest option. Improvements in the production of recycled paper mean that its quality and performance are equal to that of virgin paper. From using less energy and water to producing lower carbon emissions, to reducing the amount of waste in landfills, printing on recycled paper has immense environmental benefits.
Dispose of Waste Correctly
For many people, disposing of ink cartridges can be a hassle, since they can’t be simply put in the same recycling bins as other materials. However, there are many easy options one can take to dispose of waste correctly. From contacting the manufacturer directly to request postage-paid bags, to dropping off the empty ink at big-box stores, recycling cartridges can become easy.
From recycled paper to printing double-sided, there are more choices than ever to help consumers ensure printing is earth-friendly. Thanks to new print initiatives and technologies, you can print sustainably and responsibly no matter where you are. To try out the Mopria Print Service App and explore some of its smart printing functions, you can download the app here.
