In a constant world of change, we strive to adapt to what we need. Manufacturers and big companies, even starting companies always come up with products and ideas to make life easier. While this adds convenience to our ever day lives, we all know that through these “upgrades” come at a high cost to mother nature.
The most appropriate example is our printing breakthroughs. We become content with the convenience that they bring that we constantly forget to go green.
Presently, printing companies are making it a point to go green. Green printing technology is now on the rise. Here are just a few of the sustainable printing breakthroughs that we have experienced over the past years:
- Green inks and papers
These are inks and papers that are made with non-hazardous and mother nature-friendly materials.
- Printers that are energy efficient – These printers use less energy and emits lesser carbon footprints.
- Techniques that are carbon neutral – Even green inks, papers and printers still have carbon footprints, these techniques are meant to neutralize and lessen it.
These companies have done their parts, now it’s our turn. Ask yourself, what can you do to help mother nature?
Here are some sustainable printing tips that can get you started:
- Ask if you need to print
Before printing, ask yourself whether what you are printing really needs to be printed. Can it just be sent electronically to people who needs to see it? If so, don’t print it anymore.
- Maximize pages
If you are printing a long document, you don’t have to print the document as it is, especially if you are just going to review the content. You can print in small readable fonts, lessen the margins and make sure you are maximizing the page.
- Use two sides
If you are only printing a draft version, you can use double side printing, or you can print on the back side of the past drafts you printed. This will easily cut your paper use in half.
- Print in draft mode
Again, if this is just a draft, you can select “draft mode” or “fast draft” in your printer, this will use less ink and will print faster.
- Save paper
Once you print anything, and the back part of the paper is not yet used, save it!Stack all the “once used” papers. When you need to print another draft, you can use these papers instead of new ones.
These sustainable printing tips are just a few of the things that you can do to step up.
We all need to protect mother nature because it is us who benefits from the resources and beauty we get from her. Let’s all do our part and step up to show more love for mother nature.