Reducing paper waste 'key to sustainable printing'

Firms wanting to become sustainable printers need to reduce their paper waste and energy consumption, it has been suggested.

Sustainable printing requires cutting paper consumption and reducing energy emissions, it has been suggested.

German firm Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (known as Heidelberg) stated paper waste offers the biggest potential for improving a company's environmental standards.

"Depending on the type of paper used, paper accounts for between 60 and 90 per cent of costs and emissions per print job," it noted.

Heidelberg claimed it consistently focuses its attention on reducing paper waste through methods such as Anicolor Inking Unit technology.

Printing firms should also consider ways to reduce their energy consumption by ensuring equipment that is purchased - like hand dryers, for example - is as efficient as possible.

The company advised bosses to introduce alcohol-reduced or alcohol-free printing in order to cut carbon emissions.

Recently, Alex Walsh of the Direct Marketing Association observed the printing industry needs to work harder to overturn consumers' preconceptions that it is bad for the environment.