The Centre for Economics and Business Research (cebr) recently completed a study that highlighted the education sector could save from more efficient printing and reduce carbon emissions. For example, did you know that this sector alone wastes the financial equivalent of six million new school uniforms or the employment of 9,800 graduate teachers through inefficient printing?
But the study did not just identify cost savings. cebr estimates that, by saving waste and by printing at the point of need, approximately 860 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions could be saved each year in the UK education sector, equivalent to taking 167,000 cars off the road or the emissions from 500+ long-haul flights.
How are these savings achieved? Through three simple steps...
Print what you want.
The conventional logic is that when you use an external print house you print in bulk for economies of scale. The converse of this is that you then have to allocate space to storing all this printed paper.
Once it is printed it is fixed. A new school year begins; you now have thousands of brochures that are out of date, in stock, which then need to be recycled or pulped and re-done to include the new school schedule.
Why do you need printed letterheads or invoice blanks? Today's printers are capable of achieving the resolution and colour fidelity to reproduce logos and layouts as well as the text. Why expend energy on two print processes when one will do?
Finally, ensure that duplex printers are used whenever possible.
Print where you want it
Scan incoming documents so that everything can be handled within your organisation as files, from new local authority directives to student enquiries. Edit, annotate and create electronically; print only when you need a paper copy.
Around your own buildings, carefully review workflows and see where printers are needed.
Print when you want it
Stationery stores are a waste of office space, heating and light. Eliminate as much as possible by printing when required therefore eliminating the storage issue.
Do not think that printing in-house means that everything comes out on plain paper. Printers are available that print onto paper at any size and onto any stock: if you want your brochure on a glossy board, print onto it.
There is no reason why changing the way you manage your print should affect the quality of the results. But it will save money and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
