Eco-friendly printing is all about reducing the environmental impact of your workplace printing habits. That means using less paper, consuming fewer resources like ink and electricity, and switching to more sustainable materials wherever possible.
In many offices, printing still happens without much thought, documents are printed and binned, machines are left on overnight, and cartridges pile up. Over time, this creates more waste and unnecessary expense than most businesses realise.
In this guide, we’ll explore what eco-friendly printing actually means in practice, and how your business can start reducing paper and ink use without sacrificing productivity. We’ll look at small day-to-day changes, smarter print technology, and the bigger picture benefits of working with a Managed Print Services provider like DMS Group.
At DMS, we help UK businesses cut costs and carbon by giving them more control over how they print. From optimised printer placement to secure cloud printing and ongoing training, we build tailored print strategies that put sustainability and efficiency front and centre.
What Is Eco-Friendly Printing?
Eco-friendly printing, also known as sustainable or environmental printing, refers to the practice of reducing the negative impact of printing on the environment.
This can involve a number of things: printing fewer pages, switching to recycled paper, using energy-efficient printers, or simply setting defaults to double-sided prints.
The goal is to reduce the use of raw materials like paper and ink, lower your energy consumption, and minimise the amount of waste your business produces.
Eco-friendly printing ties directly into broader environmental goals like reducing your carbon footprint, cutting back on landfill waste, and working towards net zero targets. As more businesses prioritise sustainability, printing is an area where quick, visible improvements can be made.
Why It’s Important for Modern Businesses
Office printing might seem like a small piece of the puzzle, but it adds up. It’s estimated that the average UK office worker prints around 10,000 pages per year. That’s the equivalent of an entire tree, per person.
Add to that the energy required to run printers, the plastic and packaging used for cartridges, and the costs of excess or wasted print jobs, and it’s clear how much room there is for improvement.
Adopting more sustainable print habits isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for your bottom line. Cutting waste means cutting costs. It also shows customers and stakeholders that your business is forward-thinking and committed to reducing its environmental impact.
At DMS Group, we work closely with businesses to deliver Managed Print Services that support both sustainability and day-to-day efficiency. Whether you’re just starting to explore greener practices or looking to overhaul your entire print infrastructure, we can help you take meaningful steps in the right direction.
Reducing Paper Use in the Office
Smarter Print Habits
One of the simplest ways to reduce your environmental impact is to change how your business approaches printing day to day. Encouraging small behaviour changes can lead to big savings in both paper and cost over time.
Set your printers to double-sided (duplex) printing as standard, this alone can cut paper usage in half. Before hitting 'print', encourage employees to preview documents on screen, or use digital collaboration tools like PDFs and cloud storage instead of printing out multiple drafts.
Reducing unnecessary printing not only helps the environment but also saves time and reduces clutter in the workplace.
Print Monitoring and Rules with Managed Print Services
Managed Print Services (MPS) go a step further by giving you visibility and control over how your printers are used. At DMS, we provide software that tracks print volumes across departments, so you can see where the most printing is taking place and make informed decisions about your setup.
You can also introduce print quotas or user-based rules to reduce waste, such as requiring approval for high-volume print jobs or restricting colour printing to certain users.
Our print audits help identify inefficient devices and processes, revealing opportunities to cut waste and improve sustainability. By tailoring the setup to your real usage, we help you print less without compromising productivity.
Switching to Recycled Paper and Sustainable Sources
Another effective step is switching to recycled or sustainably sourced paper. Many recycled papers are now indistinguishable in quality from standard stock, and often come from post-consumer waste rather than virgin pulp.
Look out for paper certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or labelled as chlorine-free, these options are both better for the environment and widely available.
Concerns about recycled paper jamming printers or producing poor print quality are mostly outdated. When combined with modern print hardware and thoughtful paper selection, recycled paper can easily meet the needs of most offices.
Cutting Down on Ink and Toner Waste
Choosing Eco-Friendly Printers and Cartridges
Not all printers are created equal. Eco-friendly printers are designed to use less energy and require less ink per page. Many models now include built-in energy-saving features, automatic duplex printing, and high-efficiency toner modes.
At DMS, we recommend print hardware that’s tailored to your workload while keeping sustainability in mind. We’ll match you with devices that strike the right balance between performance, energy use, and consumables cost.
Managed Print Services and Consumables Control
With MPS, there’s no need to guess when supplies are running low or worry about overordering cartridges that sit in storage unused. Our system automatically tracks toner levels and sends out alerts when a refill is actually needed, reducing waste and keeping things running smoothly.
By centralising purchasing and management through DMS, you also reduce unnecessary packaging, delivery emissions, and stockpiling, making the entire consumables process more efficient.
Refillable, Recyclable and Returnable Cartridges
Many printer manufacturers now offer cartridge recycling schemes, and some even allow you to return used cartridges for free. Refillable ink tanks and subscription models can also reduce waste and lower long-term costs.
At DMS, we help businesses take advantage of these greener options by sourcing sustainable cartridges and managing end-of-life disposal or recycling. That way, nothing ends up in landfill that shouldn’t be there, and you can feel confident your printing setup is supporting your environmental goals.
Sustainable Print Technologies and Solutions
The Role of Energy-Efficient Hardware
The hardware you choose plays a big part in how eco-friendly your printing setup is. Modern printers are now designed with energy efficiency in mind, often coming with features like automatic sleep modes and reduced power consumption during standby.
Look for models that meet recognised standards such as ENERGY STAR certification, which ensures the device has been tested for low energy use. These machines typically consume less electricity while maintaining high performance, making them a smarter choice for both your energy bills and the environment.
At DMS, we help you select printers that meet your day-to-day requirements while also supporting your wider sustainability goals. We only recommend hardware that balances functionality, energy efficiency, and longevity.
Digital Document Management as an Alternative
One of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental footprint is to reduce your reliance on printing altogether. Digital alternatives such as secure cloud storage, electronic signatures, and collaborative editing platforms make it easier than ever to manage documents without creating physical copies.
Going digital not only cuts down on paper and toner but also improves workflow speed and data security. Many businesses now prioritise a digital-first approach where printing is only used when absolutely necessary, and with the right tools in place, it’s a seamless shift.
How DMS Optimises Infrastructure for Sustainability
Sustainable printing isn’t just about the machines, it’s also about how your print infrastructure is set up. DMS conducts a detailed assessment to make sure your devices are placed strategically. For example, smaller teams might benefit from one well-placed multi-function printer rather than several inefficient desktop printers scattered across the office.
We also help consolidate underused devices, removing redundant equipment to reduce electricity use and ongoing maintenance. By streamlining your setup and ensuring every device has a clear purpose, we help you cut waste and create a cleaner, leaner print environment.
Building a Long-Term Green Print Strategy
Working with a Managed Print Partner
Creating a sustainable print environment is an ongoing journey, not a one-off task. When you work with DMS, we start by carrying out a full audit of your existing print setup. This helps us identify inefficiencies, environmental risks, and areas for improvement.
From there, we develop a tailored Managed Print Service that includes specific recommendations for improving sustainability, whether that’s switching to low-energy printers, reducing consumables, or introducing smarter print rules.
What sets us apart is our commitment to long-term support. We carry out regular account reviews, update your setup as your needs evolve, and remain on hand to offer advice as new technologies emerge.
Empowering Staff to Print Smarter
Technology is only part of the solution. For meaningful change, your people need to be involved too. That’s why we support businesses with floor walks, ongoing training, and CPD sessions to make sure staff know how to get the most out of the systems in place.
We also help foster a culture of sustainability by using print data to generate clear, easy-to-understand reports. These insights help your teams see the real impact of their habits, encouraging more thoughtful printing, fewer mistakes, and a shared sense of accountability across the business.
At DMS, we believe that sustainable printing should be simple, effective, and tailored to how you work. With the right combination of technology, support, and strategy, it’s easy to reduce your impact without compromising productivity.
Eco-Friendly Printing FAQs
What’s the most eco-friendly printer for business use?
The most environmentally friendly printers tend to be energy-efficient models with low standby power use, duplex printing capabilities, and toner-saving modes. Look for printers with ENERGY STAR or Blue Angel certification, as these meet strict sustainability standards. It's also worth considering models that support refillable cartridges or come with recycling programmes.
At DMS, we help businesses select printers that balance performance with lower energy and consumable use, ensuring you get the right fit for your needs without unnecessary waste.
Does printing on recycled paper really make a difference?
Yes, printing on recycled paper significantly reduces the environmental impact of your office printing. It uses fewer resources, requires less energy to produce, and diverts waste from landfill. Many modern recycled papers are also chlorine-free and FSC-certified, meaning they’re processed with sustainability in mind.
And when sourced from quality suppliers, recycled paper performs just as well as standard paper in most office printers.
Can managed print services help reduce my carbon footprint?
Absolutely. A Managed Print Service (MPS) is designed to streamline your print environment and reduce waste. With DMS, this includes:
Monitoring usage across your business
Recommending energy-efficient devices
Supporting print rule implementation
Preventing over-ordering of consumables
By improving efficiency and cutting unnecessary usage, an MPS can contribute meaningfully to your carbon reduction efforts.
What should I look for in a sustainable printing partner?
A good partner should offer more than just hardware. Look for a provider that:
Understands your business needs and workflow
Offers energy-efficient and low-waste print solutions
Conducts regular reviews and audits
Provides training and support for staff
Can demonstrate their own sustainability commitments
At DMS, sustainability is a core part of how we operate, from our tailored audits to ongoing support that helps you stay efficient and environmentally responsible.
Are eco-friendly cartridges worth the switch?
Yes, eco cartridges, such as refillable, recyclable, or remanufactured options, can reduce landfill waste and lower your carbon impact. They often perform just as well as traditional options when sourced from reputable providers.
DMS supports businesses in setting up cartridge recycling schemes and choosing greener consumables that suit their printing demands, without compromising on quality or reliability.
Why Work with DMS Group to Improve Print Sustainability?
We understand that sustainability and business performance go hand in hand. That’s why every Managed Print Service we deliver includes:
Tailored print strategies that reduce waste and improve visibility
Energy-efficient hardware and print rules that align with green targets
Proactive support from a single, reliable point of contact
Ongoing reviews and training to keep your setup optimised
Whether you’re just starting to think about eco-friendly printing or ready to make a full change, DMS is here to make the transition simple, smart, and effective.
