by Oreste Prada

“Eco-friendly” is likely the last term one would associate with the paper-dependent digital-printing world. And yet, more and more, environmentally-sustainable practices and efforts to reduce environmental footprint are becoming standard practice within printer companies.

Go to Canon’s US web site and one of the first claims it makes is a dedication to the environment — a claim that was put into practice with the launch of the EcoSense line of printers.

Epson and HP, over the last couple of years, have each launched aggressive eco-printing campaigns to educate consumers on responsible printing: Epson’s Better Products for a Better Future and HP’s Eco Solutions.

Beyond these campaigns, there are even more concrete changes. You don’t have to look far into their product line before you see printer models that are nearing 100% recyclability, or are themselves made of recycled materials (the HP Deskjet D2545 is made almost entirely of recycled plastic).

These models use material choices and surface texture rather than paint to add style to the design, and they utilize eco-friendly, (or friendlier), inks with fewer VOCs. For examples, look at:

• Epson’s Stylus Pro G6000
• HP’s Latex Printing technology
• Xerox’s 8265 Wide Format Printer

Most printers are now Energy Star compliant. This voluntary U.S. EPA energy-efficiency standard began in 1992, and has now been adopted by a number of countries. Energy Star products consume up to 75% energy than previous models, and even less in stand-by mode.

There have also been major changes in the packaging of printers and their consumables, moving towards recyclable materials and avoiding, as much as possible, the use of Styrofoam and other non-biodegradable packing. Even the package art has been changed to avoid excessive use of ink. And, of course, there are now routine ink-cartridge recovery and recycling programs.

Making Sense of Eco-Printing

If these first few paragraphs have left you feeling a bit overwhelmed, you’re not alone. It seems that the industry is in a mad rush towards uncompromised sustainability, attacking each of the sources of environmental concern simultaneously.

There is a lot of information on various problems, and the policies and practices that can bring about positive change. The information is not centralized, though, and is only slowly making it to the most effective contributor to change: the consumer.

Though it’s impossible to cover all of the details in an article like this, here are some of the basic things to consider when choosing a printer:

1. Eco-labeling and research
2. Printer hardware
3. Ink selection
4. Paper selection
5. Best practices

The Eco-Labels

There are numerous labels and certifications to look for; each means a something slightly different but ultimately grades an important area of impact:

Energy Star: as the name suggests, is a grade on energy efficiency. Energy Star compliant printers use 30% to 75% less energy. Look for this label, especially if you normally leave your printer on for long periods of time.

The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive was adopted by the European Union in 2003 and took effect in 2006, restricting the quantities of six hazardous substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE). Though it is primarily a European Union restriction, all countries are benefitting from this requirement, since most companies sell their products globally.

Do Some Research Before You Buy

Visit the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) for information on energy efficiency, toxicity reduction, corporate responsibility, and how well products are managed at the end of their life spans.

The Consumer Reports Greener-Choices Eco Label Center is a search tool that covers what labels mean for a number of different products. This tool includes everything from household products to paper. There are not a lot of electronics here yet, but look for that to change.

Printer Hardware

There are a few points to consider when choosing a printer:

• Are the hardware and its related packaging recyclable, or made from recycled materials?
• Are there easily accessible ink-cartridge recycling programs?
• Can the printer save paper by printing on two sides?

Look at the packaging for labels or copy that tells you the hardware and packing materials are recycled or recyclable.

Epson, Canon, HP and Lexmark all have cartridge-recycling programs. Consumers can mail cartridges back to the manufacturers or bring them to an Office Depot, Staples or OfficeMax store for a discount on a new cartridge.

If your printer cannot print on two sides, consider saving misprints and overprints and reusing them for your “non-public” printing needs. And always recycle the used paper when you are done.

Ink Selection

With consumer desktop, and even most wide-format professional-photography printers, VOCs are not much of an issue. Most use aqueous inks, and their usage is not heavy. The problem is more with professional and large-format printing services, which use solvent-based inks with high VOC levels, and use very high quantities.

Consumers who must use professional printing services can easily find eco-printing options online. Services that use eco-inks promote it as a selling point, and professionals routinely recycle their cartridges as a way to reduce overhead.

Of more concern is how few consumers bother to recycle their cartridges. Improving consumer recycle rates would make a large impact.

Paper Selection

The type of paper is not nearly as critical as the volume of paper used. Reducing the amount of paper used will have more impact than any particular paper choice.

That said, for those who use fine-art or ink-jet papers rather than copy paper, there are several things to consider. Opting for recycled paper is always best. Note that the term “recycled” includes both post-consumer, (used), and pre-consumer, (unused), papers. A paper can be 100% recycled and use mostly pre-consumer material.

The good news for those who use fine art papers is that these heavier stocks are more able to comprise post-consumer material. The heavier the stock, the easier it is for paper manufacturers to incorporate recycled materials. Many of these papers contain 80% to 100% recycled material (again, not all post-consumer).

Recently there has been an increase in the use of bamboo as a paper base — a preferable option because bamboo grows much faster than other trees and can be replenished fairly quickly. It is also hardy, and often does not require fertilizers and pesticides for optimal yields.

Aside from the paper base, the inkjet coating and brighteners, (both the substance and the process of applying it), can have their own impact. Using brighteners seems to be a preferable option to bleach in terms of environmental impact.

Most office papers these days are brightened to achieve the bright-white look consumers have become accustomed to, but for digital photographers and artists, choosing papers with fewer brighteners and no bleaching is beneficial. (It also improves the durability of the print.)

This does mean that the paper will be a bit warm in color, rather than stark white. Hahnemuhle has recently begun offering a bamboo-based digital fine art paper that rivals its other digital fine-art options.

Bamboo is not the holy grail of eco-friendly papers, however. There are issues associated with where the bamboo is harvested, since it is native to some of the most threatened ecosystems in Southeast Asia and Central America.

Though it isn’t standard yet, some bamboo-based products come with a certification that the bamboo used was farmed and not wild (most of these currently are for flooring, where bamboo has become very popular).

Best Practices

It may seem silly to mention some of these suggestions, but the majority of consumers still don’t implement them:

Think Before You Print

Annual paper usage in the United States can be measured in the thousands of tons, with most of that paper containing less than 10% recycled material. Reducing the amount used would be the single item with the most impact. Recycling along cannot solve the problem.

According to an Infotrends 2007 study of paper manufacturing, “the issue with recycled paper is being able to collect and transport enough paper to make a quality sheet. There is only so much paper that can be collected, transported and deinked. Some feel that the industry has hit a wall in terms of being able to collect the paper needed to sustain programs and meet demands.”

Additionally, recycling is not, in and of itself, a sustainable practice, since paper can only be recycled 3-5 times before the material is unusable.

Consider whether you really need to print an address, driving directions or email. And if you’re a digital photographer or artist, log print settings (Colorspace, ICC Profile, Size, etc.) with the image file so that there is no need to proof each time you print. It will save time and money, and go a long way towards reducing paper usage.

Think Before You Buy

Many a well meaning consumer believes that having an eco-friendly product is the way to go. But there’s no sense in buying a new printer, eco-friendly as it may be, if you already have a perfectly good one.

Though new printer models with enhanced features are available each year, it only makes sense to purchase one if it offers a feature that you don’t have with your current model AND which you plan to use.

Printers last a very long time and it makes sense use of them until they no longer function properly. If you currently don’t have a printer, consider how often you are likely to use it, and whether your printing needs could be met at school, at the office, or by professional printer services. If you absolutely need a printer, look for one that uses recycled materials, is recyclable, and which enables double-sided printing.

Proof Using Both Sides

Use the back side of used sheets for non-presentation printing. Proofs, airline tickets and coupons are a great example.

This is also true for digital photographers: there are a number of proofing papers sold by the various printer manufacturers which allow you to print on both sides. They are usually much less expensive than the high-end papers photographers and artists ultimately use, but they offer a good approximation of what an image will look like.

Eco-Friendly Print Modes

Many printers offer eco-friendly print modes, though not often by name. Use “fast” or “draft” modes. The aim is to use less toner or ink; these settings help the pocketbook as much as the planet.

Recycle…Everything

Paper, hardware, packaging, ink cartridges. If there are no recycling programs in your neighborhood, building, office or school, look for sites online or check your local office supply store.

Eco-Friendly Identity vs. Eco-Friendly Reality

What has been most surprising about the environmental revolution is how it has evolved into an identity. Printer companies actually implemented environmentally-friendly policies years ago, but only now are they rigorously marketed as selling points.

It’s not good enough to simply be green, everyone seems to be rushing to be recognized as green , or at the leading edge of green technology. This isn’t a bad thing, but in the absence of consumer behavioral changes it isn’t enough.

The burden is on us as consumers to educate ourselves, select the most eco-friendly products from companies that implement environmentally-responsible practices and, most importantly, setting an example through practices at home, at school and at work.

By supporting the products and practices that enable a cleaner environment we create an economy that values this goal, and causes corporations to adapt if they want to stay in business.