As an office manager, you’re responsible for keeping operations running smoothly—and that includes finding ways to reduce costs and improve sustainability. Office printing is often a hidden expense, but it doesn’t have to be wasteful. By making a few strategic adjustments, you can lower costs, minimize waste, and implement eco-friendly practices that benefit both your company and the environment.

Here are three key ways to make office printing more sustainable, backed by industry insights.

1. Switch to Sustainable Paper and Supplies

Industry Insight: The average office worker prints 10,000 pages per year, with nearly 45% of printed documents ending up in the trash by the end of the day (Source: Gartner). Switching to sustainable materials can significantly reduce waste.

One of the easiest ways to make office printing more environmentally friendly is to use recycled or FSC-certified paper. These paper types reduce deforestation and energy consumption during production. Additionally, opt for remanufactured ink and toner cartridges, which can be refilled and reused multiple times, keeping plastic waste out of landfills.

• Office Tip: Configure all office printers for automatic double-sided printing—this simple switch can cut paper consumption by up to 50%.
• Cost Savings Insight: Using recycled paper can cost 10-20% less than virgin paper, especially when bought in bulk from sustainable suppliers.

2. Optimize Printer Settings and Implement Smart Print Policies

Industry Insight: Print-related expenses account for up to 3% of a company’s annual revenue (Source: IDC), but many offices can reduce print volumes by 20-30% just by optimizing settings and policies.

Implementing print policies can prevent unnecessary waste. For example:

• Encourage digital alternatives such as cloud storage, PDFs, and document-sharing platforms instead of physical printouts.
• Restrict color printing to specific departments or approvals.
• Set printer defaults to black-and-white and draft mode for non-essential documents.

Additionally, energy-efficient printers can make a significant difference. An ENERGY STAR-certified printer uses up to 30% less energy, helping to cut down on electricity bills.

• Office Tip: Run a monthly print audit to track usage. Highlight trends and set print quotas if needed. DEX offers managed print solutions (DEXMPS) that offer analytics to help reduce unnecessary printing.
• Cost Savings Insight: Companies that adopt managed print services can reduce printing costs by 20-40% (Source: Quocirca).

3. Set Up Recycling and Sustainable Procurement Programs

Industry Insight: Over 375 million empty ink and toner cartridges are thrown away each year, with most ending up in landfills where they take 450-1,000 years to decompose (Source: EPA).

Instead of tossing used cartridges or outdated printers, establish a recycling program:

• Ink and Toner Recycling: DEX Imaging offers a free cartridge recycling program and we’ll be glad to work with you to meet your recycling needs.
• E-Waste Disposal: We also offer an e-waste recycling program to properly dispose of old printers and electronic components.
• Sustainable Procurement: When upgrading, we will help you select printers with high-yield cartridges (which last longer) and recyclable components.

• Office Tip: Place designated recycling bins near office printers to encourage employees to recycle used paper and cartridges.
• Cost Savings Insight: Businesses that prioritize recycling and sustainable procurement can save up to 25% on print-related costs through bulk purchasing and waste reduction strategies (Source: Green Business Bureau).

Final Thoughts

Sustainable printing isn’t just about protecting the environment—it’s also about reducing costs, improving efficiency, and streamlining office operations. By implementing greener print policies, optimizing printer use, and ensuring responsible recycling, office managers can drive long-term cost savings while making a positive environmental impact.

How is your office working toward more sustainable printing? Contact our DEXperts to find out about additional ways to make better choices that benefit both your company and the environment.