This article was contributed by Amelie Blanche who works as an online journalist from Hawaii with a focus on internet freedom, cyber-security, and technology in general.
The average employee uses around 10,000 sheets of paper every year. Paper accounts for the bulk of office waste — 70% — and many print jobs are either unnecessary or never picked up. Cartridges contribute to pollution as they contain plastic and electronic parts. Review your office habits today. Here is how.
1. Cartridge Recycling
Every printer brand is strongly against at-home refilling. We do not recommend it, either. Ink cartridge refill is a complicated process requiring precision and experience. Otherwise, you risk spoiling your cartridge and/or printer.
In the past, Canadians would take their used cartridges to refillers, but this is neither convenient nor necessary today. You can order Canon 245 ink online with free shipping and quality guarantees. Stores like Smart Ink comply with ISO CE, Reach, STMC, and other standards. They test every product repeatedly before shipping it.
2. Printing Less
Before sending a document to the printer, ask yourself if this is really necessary. Could you just view it as a PDF document on your tablet? Around a third of office print jobs are redundant, according to statisticians. If you absolutely have to print, use both sides of the page.
3. Using Less Ink on Drafts
Printers have a special quality setting that minimizes the amount of ink used. Typically called Draft, it is accessible from printing properties. You can turn it on via the Windows Control Panel or the settings window when printing any file.
Despite a visibly worse quality, your documents will still be readable. Just remember to exit the Draft mode before printing anything important.
4. Changing Fonts
Bold fonts require more ink by default. The style of font also matters. For example, Arial is one of the biggest hogs — it uses around 30% more ink than Century Gothic. Calibri, Courier, and Times New Roman are also more economical.
Consider installing special eco-friendly fonts, too. For example, try Ryman Stationery, “the world’s most beautiful sustainable font” according to its creator, a store in the UK. It is pleasing to the eye despite using 33% less ink than standard fonts. The style combines hollow letters with thin lines.
The software can help you make any font more sustainable. Ecofont will poke tiny holes in the letters, be they in Arial, Verdana, or Trebuchet MS. This can bring your ink consumption down by up to 50%!
5. Using Recycled Paper
Some of the A4 paper available today is 100% recycled. It will make your printing even more sustainable without additional effort. Production of recycled paper requires less energy compared to the standard manufacturing cycle. Such paper is also compostable. Aside from A4 sheets, the brands typically produce recycled paper towels, toilet tissues, envelopes, filing materials, and more!
About the author
Amelie Blanche is an online journalist from Hawaii whose main interests are internet freedom, cyber-security, and technology. Studying marketing at Honolulu Community College and previously working as a content manager for SafeNetHonolulu, she created her own blog about Internet privacy and tech. Through simply-written articles, Amelie teaches people about Internet security tools, modern technology, and its effective use.
Last Updated on April 1, 2022 4:00 pm CEST by Markus Kasanmascheff
