As we slowly head back to the office, we’ve learned a lot about the importance of controlling costs and reducing waste in the past year. Studies have shown that the typical employee uses 10,000 sheets of paper, with as much as 70% ending up in the trash.
As we establish the “new normal,” conservation and sustainability are the keys to a prosperous future. Getting your team motivated to reduce printing costs and paper waste doesn’t have to be difficult. With a few simple changes, you can reduce costs and begin to establish a more sustainable office.
Here are a few tips to get you started!
Reduce Print Output
Sounds pretty simple, right? Not all printing is necessary, and reducing output requires a shift in how information is delivered. Often, documents are produced for meetings or presentations, when participants can easily view them on their screens. Consider monitoring individual monthly output. Most employees will self-regulate if they know they’re being monitored.
Convert to Digital Documents
A couple of stats… US companies spend over $120 billion a year on printed forms, most of which are outdated in 90 days. Also, the typical employee spends between $350 and $700 in employee time tracking lost paper.
Digital documents offer many benefits, including real-time editing and adding notes or tasks. When digital documents are stored online, forms are easy to find and can be filled out quickly. Documents can be searched using a number of parameters, making it easy to find the document you need with a click of the mouse!
Make Saving Automatic!
Set printer defaults to output two-sided, black-and-white documents, and you’ll immediately reduce your paper use, plus black-and-white prints cost significantly less than color. Combine two-sided printing and reduce your font size to 10-points, and you’ll reduce paper use even more!
Set Up Recycling Programs
One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and paper waste is to recycle. Set up recycling bins in strategic places throughout the office and encourage employees to use them. Also, set up printer cartridge recycling with your provider.
These four tips are a great place to start, but if you’d like to learn more, ask us about our Managed Print Services. We can assess your print environment to determine where you can reduce costs and offer solutions to help your business become more sustainable.
