Give your printer a break!

Nowadays most people are aware that a simple way to save money and reduce their environmental impact is by using less paper. Think about the offices at your organisation and the paper that is produced there. Could it be reduced? 

Most modern printers are able to print double sided as a standard setting (and if yours doesn’t then look for this feature if the printer is being replaced) which will immediately halve your printed paper use if you currently print on one side only. 

Why not try having a ‘no printing’ day where the printers are switched off for a day? Or if that idea sends you into a cold sweat then maybe start with just an afternoon or a couple of hours. This doesn’t have to be every week and if you have any environmental focus weeks or days, for example, this would be the perfect time to get the ball rolling. Small steps and creating new habits can have a dramatic result in the long term. Here at Positive Impact we have a paperless office and it’s fantastic! 

For the documents that you do need to print, do you use recycled paper? If not then could you consider switching? The quality has improved dramatically over the years, and you could ask for a few test reams to try out before committing to bulk orders. If you are unable to use recycled, then do ensure that your paper has come from a responsible source. FSC certified products are often thought of as applying to wood products but of course sustainably managed forests are relevant to paper too, so look for their logo on the paper and cardboard that you buy.