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Many people assume it’s impossible for printing to be “green,” but the truth is that printing is more sustainable than most people realize.
While choosing an eco-friendly printer paper option is a good way to safeguard the environment, you can also find reassurance in the fact that printing isn’t necessarily a forest-killer.
For almost 40 years, STPT’s printer experts have worked to offer innovative office solutions for businesses in North Texas.
We understand how important it is for our customers to consider the environmental impacts of their business decisions, which is why we’ve conducted research on the topic of printing, paper use, and sustainability.
In this article, we present 5 of the most relevant green facts about printing so you can make informed printing decisions using reliable information.
5 Green Facts About Printing
1. Paper Is a Renewable and Sustainable Resource
Did you know that paper is a renewable resource?
What many people don’t realize is that paper comes from wood, which is one of the few resources we have an abundance of on planet Earth. Through practices like Sustainable Forest Management, (more on this later) we can grow all the trees needed to sustain paper usage, while also planting more trees to replace the ones cut down for wood pulp.
Thanks to all the wood planted for harvesting and reforestation, there are actually 25% more trees on Earth today than in 1900!
While some things, like oil and gas, are considered non-renewable resources, wood pulp and paper products can be sustainably sourced because of the rate at which new trees can be planted. In general, tree farmers should plant about 4 trees for every tree cut down to make paper.
Besides, statistics show that electronic waste is just as if not more damaging to the environment than paper waste.
However, printing still needs to be done sustainably to keep it “green.” If your office doesn’t want to go paperless soon, facts show that it’s okay! You can still sustainably print with eco-friendly machines, paper products, and toners.
2. Paper Is the Most Recycled Material in the United States
In 2021, 68% of paper products in the U.S. were recycled.
If you’re worried about your office’s printing practices contributing to deforestation and paper waste, then think again.
While wasting paper with unnecessary printing can be harmful to the environment, the good news is that paper is the most recycled material in the United States and Europe.
So, you can use paper for printing in your office and feel reassured that most of the paper you use has been recycled previously, and you can ensure sustainability by making all your office’s paper waste is also recycled after the fact.
3. Sustainable Forest Management Makes Printing More Eco-Friendly
While paper waste was more of an environmental concern a few decades ago, these days countries like the U.S. work hard to control paper waste and overutilization using sustainable forest management.
Sustainable Forest Management is a series of processes that safeguards old forests and requires that new trees are planted routinely to avoid the negative effects of deforestation.
Most paper harvesting in the United States come from forests that are being sustainably managed, and most paper products sold come from companies that abide by very specific tree usage rules.
Thanks to sustainable forest management, the U.S. grows twice as many trees as is harvested every year, and more than 1 billion trees are planted each year.
4. Choosing Eco-Friendly Printers and Supplies Is Good for the Environment
Alright, so using paper to print may not be so bad, but what about using printers and toners to print?
Another green fact about printing is that the industry is filled with eco-friendly alternatives for companies to save energy and money while still printing necessary documents.
Some ways to ensure your office practices sustainable printing are as easy as using a duplex printer that allows for double-sided printing, buying eco-friendly printer paper, and using certified eco-friendly printers that reduce electricity usage and save energy. (As a bonus, using eco-friendly printers in the office can also save your company money.) You can also use toners and ink cartridges that are environmentally friendly, and you can utilize a service like Xerox Green World Alliance to recycle toner cartridges.
The key to green printing is making sure your business has sustainable printing policies in place.
5. Consolidating Output Using a Production Printer Saves Energy
One green fact about printing that companies don’t often think about is energy usage and efficiency. Making paper still takes a lot of energy, even today, and one way to offset some of these inefficiencies is making sure your company is strategic about how they use printing in the office.
For example, instead of buying 20 or 30 smaller, less efficient printers for everyone in the office, you can save energy—which is good for your wallet and the environment—by consolidating. Buying one or two large production printers, like the Xerox AltaLink C8170 or the Xerox PrimeLink B9110, can save energy compared to using many smaller units.
First, you can choose a certified eco-friendly production printer to satisfy your office’s printing needs. Many large printer brands, like Xerox, offer eco-friendly printers for this purpose.
It is also easier to track paper and material usage when an office uses one or two production printers. You can use managed print services to track output, and it is easier and more cost-effective for most offices to enroll in managed print for only one or two devices, rather than for 20 or 30 small personal use printers.
Consider a Production Unit to Save Energy in the Office
Reading up on green facts about printing is a good start if your company is interested in implementing environmentally sustainable office policies, but if your office isn’t quite ready to go paperless, then it may be time to invest in a production printer.
If you think your office could benefit from the energy and money-saving benefits of a production printer or managed print services, then reach out to us. We’re happy to talk to you about your business’s printing needs.
Our printing experts at STPT want to make sure you find the printer that’s right for you, whether you’re interested in sustainable printing or not. Download our free guide to learn more about office printers and how to choose the one that’s right for you.
