Resources: Greener Printing

Best Practices for Greener Printing

When selecting your printer, look for the following:

  • Are they local? Aim for a printer within 100 miles of you (or better still, within 100 miles of where the final printed piece will be distributed).
  • Are they FSC Certified? FSC certification ensures that the paper used comes from sustainably-managed forests
  • Are they certified by a legitimate third-party environmental group? While it doesn't provide a guarantee, legitimate certification can ensure your printer takes these issues seriously
  • Are they powered by a renewable energy source?
  • If not directly powered by renewable energy, do they offset their energy use by purchasing renewable energy credits from a legitimate provider? (Like Green-e)
  • Do they have a formal environmental policy in operation? What is it?
  • Do they have a formal energy reduction policy in operation? What is it?
  • Do they have a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation? What is it?
  • Do they provide a formal benefits program and regular safety training for their employees? A printer should respect their staff as much as they respect the environment.
  • Are they willing to discuss the above issues with you? Environmentally-aware printers should be open to educating you about their processes, as well as willing to learn themselves.

Additional ways to green the printing process

  • Use our Project Calculator to minimize paper waste during the printing process.
  • Consider using digital or waterless printing to reduce overall VOC emissions.
  • FTP your files instead of providing hardcopy materials.
  • Proof on screen as much as possible to reduce paper waste.
  • Use makereadies, overruns, reclaimed materials, or other scrap paper as the base stock.

Greener Paper

What does it mean for paper to be sustainable?

Greener Printing

How can you limit printing waste? How should you select a greener printer?

Greener Ink

What makes a better more environmentally responsible ink choice?

Greener Materials

What constitutes a sustainable material? Where can you find them?