Green Printing

You can print green and keep the "green" attitude while accomplishing your printing needs. In addition to using sustainable printing materials, as well as keeping the green attitude alive while commercial printing, it takes a lot of effort on your part and your printer's as well to have an eco-friendly printing process. But it is also worth it when you see that it is not only more affordable sometimes, but you also add to the sustainability of our planet for the sake of our children.

Being green is also one way to market effectively to your target clients. You can make them interested in your business when they see that you are involved in helping the environment become more sustainable. By promoting the "green revolution" in your printing practices, many of your target clients will most certainly respect you for it and even be encouraged to help you cause by buying your eco-friendly products.

So here are simple and easy ways to help you print green.

1. Go for recycled paper.
2. Look for papers made from sustainably harvested fiber.
3. Choose a printer that is also eco-friendly.
4. Use vegetable inks.
   Check if your printer can apply inks that are soy based. By using vegetable inks in your print materials, you avoid damaging the environment with petroleum-based inks that are often traditionally used in most standard printing projects.

Green procurement of printers and copiers

Analyze printer and copier procurement

The preliminary questions are:

1. Do you need the printer or copier at all? Can you reduce the number of printers?
2. Are there any older ones inside the organization that can be refurbished?
3. Can you buy printing and/or copying services instead of installing equipment?

Important:

1. Always determine the necessary capacity and function of each device (How many people will use it? How many pages are printed or copied on average? Do they need color printing and copying? etc.)
2. Use central printers and copiers wherever possible, instead of the principle of “a printer for every computer” and “a copier for every room”.
3. Use multi-functional devices.
   
   

Environmental aspects

Production
Printers and copying machines are produced from many materials in a complex process. Important points are:

1. The use of non-renewable natural resources (plastic parts)
2. The use of harmful chemicals for flame retardants and other harmful substances
3. The use of resources for packaging

Use
Despite the relatively short life-cycle, the most important environmental effect emerges during the usage phase in the form of energy used, the use of inks and consumables, etc. Additionally, there are effects on the health of users, these are:

1. Ozone, styrene and dust emissions
2. Noise

Waste
The many different materials used cause a severe problem of wastage. Most of the materials can be recycled. A (free of charge) take-back system for recycling should be taken into account when purchasing computers and monitors. Printer consumables (toners and cartridges) also create waste throughout the life of the machine.


Cost aspects

Life cycle costs

1. Savings in energy costs can be made by using energy management programs.
2. The use of consumables: toners and cartridges for inks and paper. Here, savings can be made by, for example, printing draft versions of documents in the economy mode. A device for double-sided printing/copying also saves paper.
3. A smaller part of the life-cycle cost relates to maintenance and disposal.

For more information about green procurement go to EU Green Public Procurement.