With renewed attention on reducing paper usage as a way of controlling costs, many proactive companies are also looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint while becoming more sustainable.

One way to accomplish this is through multifunction printers, which also provide copying, storing, scanning and faxing functions. With one machine doing the work of many, energy-efficient technology and two-sided duplexing capabilities, you can produce great-looking documents while reducing your carbon footprint and paper usage. Multifunction printers are available as both B&W and color laser printers. With color printing costs coming down and printer speeds going up, a color, all-in-one multifunction printer with scanning, faxing and copying capabilities is a smart choice for companies that need to communicate in color.

Through the intelligent selection of multifunction devices, you’ll also be able to lower your electricity consumption by reducing the needed number of copiers and printers. At the same time, you’ll lower your document production costs.

Your company may be like many – watching dollars go out the door with every ream of paper that is popped into a copier or printer. Document print expense is a largely unmanaged and unknown expense for many businesses. Yet business total print management is an important consideration, since one study found that associated printing and paper inventory costs could be as much as 31 times the paper purchasing costs.

CalRecycle, California’s leading authority on recycling, waste reduction, and product reuse, has developed guidelines for reducing paper as well as measurements for determining total paper reduction.
For example, one company launched a paper reduction program in May of 1995. From April 1994 to April 1995, the company purchased 210 cases (2,100 reams) of white ledger paper. From May 1995 to May 1996, the company purchased only 197 cases (1,970 reams). Annual paper reduction was .33 tons, calculated as:
Tons of paper reduced/year 
= (2,100 reams – 1,970 reams) ¸ 400 reams/ton 
= .33 tons

Clearly, such a reduction would help a company reduce its carbon footprint.

You can also reduce your costs by carefully considering the cost of maintenance and repair for multifunction printers. It’s important to select a provider with an extensive parts inventory, as well as a provider with factory-trained copier technicians who can provide prompt service and fast repairs. You may want to look for a provider that can provide a loaner multifunction printer if yours requires off-site service.