The printing industry as a whole is not known for being overly sustainable, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do your bit for the environment.
Whether you are guilty of wasting too much, your carbon footprint is higher than you would like, or you use hardly any recyclable materials, it is never too late to adopt new practices to make your printing business more sustainable.
1. Review how many printers you need
How many printers do you currently have? Do you use each one to its maximum capacity? If not, then this could be having a seriously detrimental effect on your sustainability efforts.
Take the time to evaluate each printer that you own, determining how you use it and how often. Once you have done this, you will be in a much better position to see which printers you could do without and which ones are pulling their weight.
2. Recycle old machines
Following on from the first tip, if you no longer need a printer or it becomes broken or faulty, you must make sure that you dispose of it in the right way. Most printers end up in landfills, which contribute to global warming, as well as causing many other environmental and health problems.
In most cases, your supplier should be able to arrange for someone to come and collect any old printers when you purchase a new one. Just make sure that you check their recycling policies to ensure they are compliant with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.
3. Encourage multiple-use designs
When selling to your customers, encourage them to opt for multiple-use designs rather than multiple single-use ones. Enabling you to reduce wastage and energy consumption, multiple-use designs are beneficial to your customers and to the environment.
This is a great tip that can be used alongside other discount strategies for printing companies, enabling you to make your business more eco-friendly and more attractive to new customers.
4. Use recyclable materials
Switching to recyclable materials is a lot easier than you might think and doesn’t have to affect the quality of your products or services.
For example, eco-friendly inks are becoming increasingly popular in the industry, providing a high-quality and long-lasting finish that is less harmful to the environment. Stands and frames can also be made from recyclable materials such as carbon fiber or recycled metals.
5. Reduce your carbon emissions
Where possible, you should try to reduce the number of deliveries you make, as lorries and trucks release harmful carbon emissions that wreak havoc with the ozone layer.
Try to order any supplies you need in bulk to cut down on the number of journeys needed and deliver as many orders as possible on the same delivery route.
Takeaway
Implementing sustainable practices can seem like a daunting task at the beginning, but even just a few small changes can make a difference. Make sure that you get all of your employees on board with your efforts and goals, as change needs to start from within.
