How to Reduce Paper Usage in the Workplace

Paper waste is a big issue in business. If reduced this can have a very positive impact on the environment and save money. There are many easy ways for businesses and organizations to reduce their paper usage. Even small actions can become a habit and help us to develop a more sustainable, planet-friendly lifestyle. Make this part of your company’s culture.

1. Think before you print

Think twice if you really need to print or can you think of a better way to communicate or store data you are about to transfer to paper copy.

2. Use electronic means to communicate

Technology provides many opportunities for businesses to reduce paper consumption. Email, text messages and intranets can reduce paper use significantly while also saving time and money. They can also make documents easier to store and retrieve than paper copies.

3. Give employees dual monitors

Using dual monitors not only cuts cost but allows staff to work more efficiently. Dual monitor setups not only reduce the need to print documents, they also make manual data transfer much simpler than paper by having side by side displays for the input screen and the source document. Many people use a laptop and docking station as one of the displays.

4. Print on both sides of the paper using duplex printing

If you need to print, printing on both sides of the paper will reduce, significantly, paper waste. It can actually save up to 50% of paper costs. Duplexing saves money on paper purchasing, as well as on storage and mailing. Make sure your staff know how to select duplex printing settings.

5. Switch to digital forms

Sending sales invoices and statements and other documents such as order acknowledgements and employee payslips  via email is quicker and less expensive. Likewise receiving 3rd party documents electronically for processing without printing out will reduce paper consumption. 

6. Reduce print margins and font Size

Another easy way to reduce print volume is to fit more information on every piece of paper office employees print. Reducing print margins and font size  can make a big difference in the overall consumption especially in high-volume print routines.