In an age where sustainability is no longer optional, production departments have a critical role to play in reducing environmental impact. High-volume printing often consumes large amounts of energy, paper, and ink: resources that, if not managed responsibly, contribute to waste and carbon emissions. The good news is that by adopting eco-friendly practices, production printing can align with environmental goals while still delivering efficiency and quality.
Whether your organization prints marketing collateral, manuals, invoices, or packaging materials, there are a handful of practical and impactful ways to make your printing operations more sustainable.
Switch to Recycled and FSC-Certified Paper
The simplest and most immediate change a production department can make is switching to eco-conscious paper options. Traditional printing paper contributes to deforestation and high water usage, particularly when sourced from unsustainable forests. Here are some alternatives:
- Recycled paper, ideally post-consumer waste (PCW), which reduces the demand for virgin pulp and minimizes landfill contributions.
- FSC-certified paper (Forest Stewardship Council), which ensures responsible sourcing and sustainable forestry practices.
While some worry that recycled paper affects print quality, advancements in manufacturing now offer smooth, bright recycled options that meet professional standards for both text and color fidelity.
Implement Print-on-Demand Workflows
One of the most wasteful habits in production printing is overproduction. When materials are printed in large quantities “just in case,” they often go unused, especially if they contain time-sensitive or versioned content. Over time, this leads to stacks of obsolete brochures, outdated manuals, or other branded materials that must be discarded.
By shifting to a print-on-demand model, your department prints only what’s needed when it’s needed. This reduces inventory waste, frees up storage space, and minimizes the environmental footprint of bulk production. Combined with digital asset management, on-demand workflows allow for quicker updates and more targeted distribution – great for both the planet and your bottom line.
Use Eco-Friendly Inks and Toners
The inks and toners used in large-scale printing can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and other pollutants harmful to both the environment and human health. Fortunately, there are greener alternatives:
- Soy-based inks: Made from renewable soy oil, these inks emit fewer VOCs than petroleum-based inks and often produce brighter colors.
- Vegetable-based inks: Derived from linseed, corn, or other plant oils, they break down more easily in recycling processes.
- Low-melt toners: These require less energy during the fusing stage, reducing electricity usage per print job.
Even with toner-based systems, using energy-efficient printers that are compatible with these low-impact options can lead to substantial long-term gains in sustainability.
Invest in Energy-Efficient Equipment
Production printing systems are some of the most power-hungry machines in an office environment. Continuous use, standby modes, and heating elements all contribute to electricity consumption and carbon emissions.
Look for printers and finishing equipment with ENERGY STAR® certification or equivalent energy-efficiency ratings. These machines are designed to consume less power without compromising performance. Features like automatic sleep modes, duplex printing defaults, and optimized warm-up cycles can significantly reduce your energy footprint.
Moreover, scheduling regular maintenance and keeping machines clean and calibrated ensures they operate at peak efficiency, preventing waste caused by malfunctions or misprints.
Partner with a Sustainable Printing Provider
Sometimes the greenest move a production department can make is knowing when to outsource. If your internal equipment or processes can’t meet your sustainability goals, working with a certified production printing service provider may be the answer.
Professional partners often operate at a larger scale, giving them access to more sustainable materials, energy-efficient technologies, and environmentally responsible waste management systems. Many also hold environmental certifications such as ISO 14001, indicating compliance with international standards for environmental management systems.
Outsourcing doesn’t mean giving up control. It means strategically choosing a partner that aligns with your values and helps you achieve higher quality with lower environmental impact.
Going green in production printing will not risk compromising quality or performance. Having eco-friendly practices is about making smarter, more responsible decisions that benefit your business, your customers, and the planet. Whether you’re sourcing better materials, using smarter workflows, or choosing a production printing partner with sustainability at its core, every step toward eco-friendliness is a step toward a stronger future.
These five practices are just the beginning, but they form a solid foundation for any production department looking to cut waste, lower costs, and contribute to environmental responsibility. Sustainable printing is not just a trend; it’s a necessary evolution in how we do business.
