![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ld_banr_txt_customers_2020_728x90-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nMinimizing unnecessary and wasteful print is a no brainer (and it\u2019s easier to get started than you imagined). Implementing conscious print procedures will help save money on your overhead costs and help reduce the carbon footprint of your company. Let\u2019s get started!<\/span><\/p>\n#1 – Make recycling easy.<\/b>
\nPrint is inevitable in any office, and not everything you print is something you will store for later use. Copy paper is easy to recycle, but much of it just doesn\u2019t find a way back into circulation because businesses don\u2019t prioritize making recycling easy for workers. <\/span><\/p>\n#2 – Copy on both sides of paper.<\/b>
\nSet your printers and copiers to use <\/span>both sides of the page<\/span><\/a> when printing. Doing so instantly cuts the amount of pages used per print job in half. That\u2019s a huge amount over the course of a year or two! <\/span><\/p>\n#3 – Reduce document size to fit onto single page.<\/b>
\nReformatting your prints to fit two pages side-by-side on the page cuts the amount of paper you use in half, and if you print front-and-back that\u2019s three sheets of paper saved for every one used. <\/span><\/p>\n#4 – Check out the first and last page.<\/b>
\n When you print articles from the web, a lot of times the printer isn\u2019t automatically optimized for the page and can include links, headers, et cetera. When your print preview comes up, take a look to see that you aren\u2019t printing something you don\u2019t need. While this may only save a page or two on every other article, over time it will help you <\/span>minimize the amount of paper waste<\/span><\/a> you are producing right out of the printer. Similarly, articles with extensive comment sections can run several extra pages of print you usually don\u2019t need. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n#5 – Lighter weight paper.<\/b>
\n Lighter paper requires less wood pulp to produce. That means less material investment going into your paper and less work necessary during the recycling process. Your day to day business needs don\u2019t require heavier paper stock in most cases. In those instances where you need to make an impression with your print quality, you can manually load better paper into the printer. This also helps minimize costs, as lighter weight paper is often less expensive. Bonus!<\/span><\/p>\n#6 – Proofread before you print.<\/b>
\n Noticing a typo on something you just printed isn\u2019t just frustrating—it\u2019s wasteful. When you preview your print, give each page one final run through to make sure no glaring errors will result in waste. <\/span><\/p>\n#7 – Print management software. <\/b>
\nMedium-sized and larger offices can benefit greatly by using print management software to help regulate cloud printing and track data. Popular management programs like <\/span>PaperCut\u00ae<\/span><\/a> are expressly designed to limit the amount of paper waste your company uses. <\/span><\/p>\n#8 – Set bills to paperless.<\/b>
\n Some of the best tips for home apply to your business as well. Utility bills and other regular expenses can be set to paperless, meaning your monthly statements are sent via email rather than billing. Similarly, when paying vendors requesting digital invoices and submitting receipts via email will limit the amount of print your accounting department creates. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n#9 – Don\u2019t fax.<\/b>
\n Yes, some businesses are still heavily reliant on fax machines in 2016. Fax machines are pretty much emails that use paper—take them out of the equation. If you need to have a fax line active in order to receive communications be sure to stock it with used paper.<\/span><\/p>\n#10 – Supply digital readers.<\/b>
\n Reading from a computer screen all day causes eye strain, which makes wanting to print out longer documents understandable. However, there are several eReaders on the market designed to mimic the experience of reading text on the printed page, limiting fatigue while you save paper. Many accept PDF format documents and can double as on-the-go storage for important information. <\/span><\/p>\n#11 – Eliminate subscriptions.<\/b>
\n Subscriptions tend to pile up over time. While some periodicals feature print-only features, many offer up all of their content online for less money. Personally, I get three newspapers sent directly to my Kindle\u00ae Fire tablet daily. Over the course of 365 editions, that\u2019s a whole lot of paper I just saved without missing a beat on what\u2019s happening in the news.<\/span><\/p>\n#12 – Take notes on scraps.<\/b>
\n Why use fresh, new paper to scribble down to-do lists? <\/span>Use scrap paper<\/span><\/a> from the recycling and to take notes, create lists, or plan out strategy. Hanging a whiteboard or chalkboard can also help minimize the amount of paper you use brainstorming and keeping organized. <\/span><\/p>\n#13 – Reduce margins.<\/b>
\n Smaller margins on the sides of your pages means less space wasted and fewer pages needed. <\/span><\/p>\n#14 – Shred and reuse internal documents.<\/b>
\n One great trick for businesses that ship products: <\/span>use shredded paper to pack goods<\/span><\/a> before sending them out to customers. Not only does this minimize the amount of overhead dedicated to buying bubble wrap and similar packing materials, but it reuses something you otherwise would need to have recycled. <\/span><\/p>\n#15 – Buy paper smarter.<\/b>
\n Chlorine free paper with as little virgin pulp percentage as possible. <\/span>Alternative paper? Hemp and bamboo are far more sustainable than the type of trees traditional office paper is derived from. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n#16 – Don\u2019t print emails unnecessarily.<\/b>
\n You\u2019ve got it right there on your laptop, why are you printing it out too? \u00a0Some organizations recommend putting a <\/span>notice in your email signature<\/span><\/a> requesting recipients do not print out the email unnecessarily as a kindly reminder to others to do their part in conserving paper. <\/span><\/p>\n#17 – Do a paper audit.<\/b>
\n A paper audit is just like any other financial audit—it\u2019s designed to minimize waste and save money. It\u2019s just an added bonus that you also help save the planet in the process. Pinpoint where the majority of your paper waste is coming from and act accordingly. <\/span><\/p>\n#18 – And take a minute to do a little research into the products you buy.<\/b>
\n Some companies put more emphasis into sustainable practices—like yours!—and rewarding smart conservation-oriented production can double down on your global impact. <\/span><\/p>\nThe most important thing about reducing your waste is being conscious about how you manage the resources you can control. Reducing total costs opens up budgetary space to buy more recycled products, as well as things like biodegradable plastic cutlery for the office kitchen and a whole lot more.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ld_bnr_blog_GreatInk_2020_728x90-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
#1 – Make recycling easy.<\/b> #2 – Copy on both sides of paper.<\/b> #3 – Reduce document size to fit onto single page.<\/b> #4 – Check out the first and last page.<\/b> #5 – Lighter weight paper.<\/b> #6 – Proofread before you print.<\/b> #7 – Print management software. <\/b> #8 – Set bills to paperless.<\/b> #9 – Don\u2019t fax.<\/b> #10 – Supply digital readers.<\/b> #11 – Eliminate subscriptions.<\/b> #12 – Take notes on scraps.<\/b> #13 – Reduce margins.<\/b> #14 – Shred and reuse internal documents.<\/b> #15 – Buy paper smarter.<\/b> #16 – Don\u2019t print emails unnecessarily.<\/b> #17 – Do a paper audit.<\/b> #18 – And take a minute to do a little research into the products you buy.<\/b> The most important thing about reducing your waste is being conscious about how you manage the resources you can control. Reducing total costs opens up budgetary space to buy more recycled products, as well as things like biodegradable plastic cutlery for the office kitchen and a whole lot more.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPrint is inevitable in any office, and not everything you print is something you will store for later use. Copy paper is easy to recycle, but much of it just doesn\u2019t find a way back into circulation because businesses don\u2019t prioritize making recycling easy for workers. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nSet your printers and copiers to use <\/span>both sides of the page<\/span><\/a> when printing. Doing so instantly cuts the amount of pages used per print job in half. That\u2019s a huge amount over the course of a year or two! <\/span><\/p>\n
\nReformatting your prints to fit two pages side-by-side on the page cuts the amount of paper you use in half, and if you print front-and-back that\u2019s three sheets of paper saved for every one used. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n When you print articles from the web, a lot of times the printer isn\u2019t automatically optimized for the page and can include links, headers, et cetera. When your print preview comes up, take a look to see that you aren\u2019t printing something you don\u2019t need. While this may only save a page or two on every other article, over time it will help you <\/span>minimize the amount of paper waste<\/span><\/a> you are producing right out of the printer. Similarly, articles with extensive comment sections can run several extra pages of print you usually don\u2019t need. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Lighter paper requires less wood pulp to produce. That means less material investment going into your paper and less work necessary during the recycling process. Your day to day business needs don\u2019t require heavier paper stock in most cases. In those instances where you need to make an impression with your print quality, you can manually load better paper into the printer. This also helps minimize costs, as lighter weight paper is often less expensive. Bonus!<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Noticing a typo on something you just printed isn\u2019t just frustrating—it\u2019s wasteful. When you preview your print, give each page one final run through to make sure no glaring errors will result in waste. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nMedium-sized and larger offices can benefit greatly by using print management software to help regulate cloud printing and track data. Popular management programs like <\/span>PaperCut\u00ae<\/span><\/a> are expressly designed to limit the amount of paper waste your company uses. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n Some of the best tips for home apply to your business as well. Utility bills and other regular expenses can be set to paperless, meaning your monthly statements are sent via email rather than billing. Similarly, when paying vendors requesting digital invoices and submitting receipts via email will limit the amount of print your accounting department creates. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Yes, some businesses are still heavily reliant on fax machines in 2016. Fax machines are pretty much emails that use paper—take them out of the equation. If you need to have a fax line active in order to receive communications be sure to stock it with used paper.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Reading from a computer screen all day causes eye strain, which makes wanting to print out longer documents understandable. However, there are several eReaders on the market designed to mimic the experience of reading text on the printed page, limiting fatigue while you save paper. Many accept PDF format documents and can double as on-the-go storage for important information. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n Subscriptions tend to pile up over time. While some periodicals feature print-only features, many offer up all of their content online for less money. Personally, I get three newspapers sent directly to my Kindle\u00ae Fire tablet daily. Over the course of 365 editions, that\u2019s a whole lot of paper I just saved without missing a beat on what\u2019s happening in the news.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Why use fresh, new paper to scribble down to-do lists? <\/span>Use scrap paper<\/span><\/a> from the recycling and to take notes, create lists, or plan out strategy. Hanging a whiteboard or chalkboard can also help minimize the amount of paper you use brainstorming and keeping organized. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n Smaller margins on the sides of your pages means less space wasted and fewer pages needed. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n One great trick for businesses that ship products: <\/span>use shredded paper to pack goods<\/span><\/a> before sending them out to customers. Not only does this minimize the amount of overhead dedicated to buying bubble wrap and similar packing materials, but it reuses something you otherwise would need to have recycled. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n Chlorine free paper with as little virgin pulp percentage as possible. <\/span>Alternative paper? Hemp and bamboo are far more sustainable than the type of trees traditional office paper is derived from. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n You\u2019ve got it right there on your laptop, why are you printing it out too? \u00a0Some organizations recommend putting a <\/span>notice in your email signature<\/span><\/a> requesting recipients do not print out the email unnecessarily as a kindly reminder to others to do their part in conserving paper. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n A paper audit is just like any other financial audit—it\u2019s designed to minimize waste and save money. It\u2019s just an added bonus that you also help save the planet in the process. Pinpoint where the majority of your paper waste is coming from and act accordingly. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n Some companies put more emphasis into sustainable practices—like yours!—and rewarding smart conservation-oriented production can double down on your global impact. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/h3>\n