Green is undoubtedly the latest trend to sweep across industries, including printing. Of course, today’s consumers still want high-performing, feature-rich devices, but they are just as concerned with the environment and sustainability. Office printer manufacturers have woken up to the fact that when consumers choose which printer brand to buy, they consider more than just the style, price, and quality of a device. They also keep an eye out for green printing solutions, which can help reduce their business’ carbon footprint.

Read on to find out more about the growing trend of sustainability practices in printer manufacturing, and take a look at six green printing features that have the biggest potential in reducing your carbon footprint.

Automatic duplex printing

Two sides are better than one. Many new multifunction printers are capable of automatically printing on both sides of your paper. Double-sided printing consumes less energy compared to normal printing, and by reducing your paper usage, you lessen your impact on the environment.

Energy reduction

Eco-friendly printers are also equipped with the energy saving function. They will automatically switch to Power Save Mode when not in use for a certain period of time. When they move into Sleep Mode, the power consumption will reduce by 40% and the printer will almost be as good as a switched off printer.

Managed print solutions 

When you have a managed print solution on your side, you can take control of your print environment and ensure the efficiency of your printing operations. It becomes easier to monitor printer activity in your office, which can ultimately help reduce paper use, avoid unnecessary printing, and limit wastage.

Recycled cartridges

Many manufacturers, like the HP Planet Partners Program, encourage you to recycle your empty ink or toner cartridges. The plastic from the cartridges can be reused to make new cartridges or it can be remanufactured. HP states that it has reused more than 199 million pounds of recycled plastics in its products since 2000. Toner bottles are also made from 100% recyclable waste.

Greener paper

It should come as no surprise that one of the biggest threats to the planet is the high amount of trees that are being chopped down to manufacture printing paper. Luckily, paper manufacturers are offering much better options: paper sourced from ecologically managed plantations and carrying the FSC certifications, paper that hasn’t been bleached by chlorine, and alternatives such as cereal straw pulp.

Non-toxic and eco-friendly ink

Since traditional ink is made up of various chemical ingredients that can damage and pollute the planet, it only makes sense that some manufacturers have started switching them with  inks made from soy or vegetable based materials, which are more environmentally friendly. 

• READ MORE: Steps towards more sustainable printing

Final word

Sustainability is high on the list of manufacturing priorities for printer brands as consumers are demanding to know what their office printers are made of and what eco-friendly features they offer. The above are great examples of the printing industry’s ability to produce eco-friendly multifunction office printers and consumables to accommodate consumers’ growing awareness of the environmental impacts of their purchases.