Green Up Your Office Printing

Are you looking for a way to green up the office? In this article you will find out how to make your office printing the greenest you possible can.

First, let's talk about paper. Not the paper for business cards, but just for normal copies. Most paper you will buy in stores has about 10%-30% post-consumer materials, which isn't bad, but we can do much better. Nearly every brand and store will sell entirely recycled paper, such as Staples. They sell 100% recycled paper, the only problem is that the Staples brand only comes in 20lb variety. For those who do not know what the weight system means, it refers to the thickness. For 20lbs, if you want to just copy black and white, then it is adequate. However, for color, you will want at least 24lb paper. A quick look on Google can find you sellers of this type of paper, but it is less common. Since most business will only call for B&W printing, again the 20lb should be fine.

Next, your printer. Whether you are using a toner (laser) based printer, or an inkjet, both of these have high pollution rates. Their cartridges cannot be recycled normally, and what it takes to create them is also very harmful to the environment. You can buy soy based inks, but for normal consumers (and not screen printers) it tends to be difficult to find.

The alternative is Xerox's new inventions, dry ink. It has low pollution (the greenest printing they can offer), it is also cheap and has a high printing output. However, the only printer it is offered by is their Phaser 8560. A little pricey, it is a great investment. Not just for its green side, but also it's great speeds and reliability.

Now that we have both paper and printer covered, what about your business cards, letterhead, and other professionally printed materials? Most companies offer a low percentage in the realm of post-consumer materials, but there is one printer who is completely run on recycled paper, and wind power too.

Printingforless.com: While there are some printing companies who offer lower prices, they are one of the few who are completely green in their printing.

Utilizing these three steps, you will dramatically reduce your footprint on the environment, while at the same time receiving great results from your paper, printer, and your professionally printed materials.