How to be Green

Environment Header 

Home > Environment > How to be Green

How to be Green

There are a number of important reasons to Go Green as a printer, paper professional or designer, the most significant being that preserving the world’s natural resources is everyone's responsibility. Sustainability is an issue that cannot be ignored — it affects everyone. Changes must be made to decrease our impact on the environment. There has never been a more appropriate time to Go Green.

Reasons to Go Green:

  1. It sets a positive example for employees, colleagues and the community, and boosts company morale and customer loyalty.
  2. It gives a competitive advantage by differentiating you as a green company.
  3. It improves efficiency and potentially lowers operating costs.
  4. It provides a cleaner and healthier workplace and environment in general.

Green Business:

  1. Don't be afraid of paper. By using paper, you are investing in the industry that maintains the American Forests.
  2. Pull the Plug. Turn off everything possible at the end of the work day. Electronics still draw energy, when they are plugged in. Utilize power strips in order to unplug everything at once.
  3. Get Wise with Waste. Recycle paper whenever possible. Place recycling bins in strategic locations around the office. Institute a company-wide recycling program for electronics.
  4. Work With Like-Minded Companies. Network with businesses that practice sustainability and use their services when possible. Ensure a green supply chain. Seek out green vendors for business needs (i.e. cleaning supplies, paper suppliers. etc).
  5. Build a Green Office from the Floor Up. Use eco-friendly building materials made from renewable or recycled materials. Use sustainable fabrics made from hemp or bamboo for window coverings. Reusing second hand office equipment is cost-effective and reduces waste. If possible, convert offices to source energy from wind or solar power.
Pull the plug when not using an electrical appliance.

Green Printer:

  1. On-Screen Proof whenever possible.
  2. Utilize eco-friendly products such as soy or vegetable based inks and certified or tree less paper.
  3. Dispose of waste inks and toners properly.
  4. Offer waterless printing methods, which drastically reduces the amount of chemically tainted waste normally produced during a regular print job. (Learn more)
  5. Practice energy saving techniques by turning off and unplugging all machinery when not in use and utilizing eco-friendly sources of energy such as solar and wind power.

Green Designer:

  1. Maximize space usage. Utilize as much space as possible per page in order to reduce the amount of paper needed to print the piece.
  2. Utilize green hosting services. When looking for hosting, consider hosting services that use renewable energy sources to power their data centers or offset their energy usage.
  3. Use paper instead of plastics whenever possible. Paper is more environmentally friendly than plastic. Always select certified papers or papers made from recycled material.
  4. Design with sustainability in mind. If possible, create pieces that have multiple uses or can be recycled when no longer needed.
  5. Inform clients. Help clients select a paper that is certified or made from recycled materials.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing Warning
'Greenwashing' is a term used when consumers are misled into believing a company or product is environmentally friendly, when in actuality it may offer little or no environmental benefit.

  • Be Specific - Make sure environmental claims are clear regardless of whether they relate to office, production or products themselves. For example, labeling a product “recycled” can cause confusion. “Recycled” can mean that a product is entirely made of recycled materials, partly made from recycled materials, or is packaged out of recycled materials. Also, avoid, general implied environmental benefits like “Earth Safe”. Limit claims to specific product attributes that can be substantiated.
  • Don't Overstate - Avoid making claims that overstate or imply environmental benefits when they are in reality negligible. For example if an office saves 50% more energy, it may only be saving 2% out of its energy usage instead of 1%. It is better to assess the worthiness of a claim based on the significance of its total environmental impact and not on overstated or exaggerated percentages.
  • Substantiate - The basis and legitimacy of any claim, environmental or otherwise, depends on substantiation of its true impact. That substantiation needs to be in the form of measurable, verifiable and accurate data. Becoming certified by a reputable organization gives credibility to a company's green practices.

Top