If you run an office today, you can’t ignore eco friendly printing. Between rising paper costs, overflowing recycle bins, and customers asking about sustainability, printing is one of the easiest places to cut waste and show you care about the environment. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice print quality or productivity to go green—especially when you have the right equipment and support from a partner like Carolina Business Technologies, Inc.
This playbook walks you through three big levers you can control right now: settings, paper, and supplies.
Why Eco Friendly Printing Starts at the Device
Most people think “eco” means “use less paper.” That’s part of it, but modern multifunction printers (MFPs) and copiers have dozens of built-in tools designed to reduce waste:
Default duplex (double-sided) printing
Print quotas and user tracking
Energy-saving modes
Secure print release so jobs don’t sit abandoned on the tray
The problem? Many of these features never get turned on.
At Carolina Business Technologies, Inc., we see this all the time during print assessments: great devices, wasteful settings. Fixing this doesn’t require new hardware; it usually just requires a smarter setup and a clear office policy.
Let’s walk through how to build your eco friendly printing playbook step by step.
Step 1: Dial In Your Printer Settings
Think of your MFP settings as your “green defaults.” Set them once, and you reduce waste every single day without employees having to think about it.
1. Turn on Double-Sided Printing by Default
If you do only one thing, do this.
Set duplex as the default print mode on all shared devices.
Allow single-sided printing only when truly needed (client forms, special documents, etc.).
This simple change can cut your paper use by up to 50% in many offices.
2. Use Draft Mode for Internal Documents
Not every document needs to look like it’s going to a client.
Set “draft” or “economy” mode as the default for internal emails, notes, and working drafts.
Reserve high-quality or full-color modes for presentations and final versions.
Draft mode uses less toner and often prints faster. Your team gets their pages quickly, and you save on supplies.
3. Limit Color Printing Where It Counts
Color is powerful—but it’s also more expensive and less eco friendly if abused.
Restrict color printing to specific users, departments, or applications.
Set black-and-white as the default for everyone else.
Use rules like “All emails print in black-and-white” and “Client proposals can print in color.”
Carolina Business Technologies, Inc. can help you set print rules that automatically enforce these policies, so IT doesn’t have to chase down every request.
4. Turn On Secure Print Release
One of the biggest sources of waste? Jobs that never get picked up.
Secure print release solves that:
Users send jobs to a central queue.
Nothing prints until they walk up to the device and log in or badge in.
Abandoned jobs never hit the tray, so they never hit the trash.
This saves paper, protects confidential information, and keeps your output area cleaner.
5. Use Sleep and Power-Save Modes
Modern MFPs have smart energy features:
Sleep mode when idle
Automatic wake-up when someone prints or copies
Reduced energy use outside of business hours
Make sure these are turned on and properly scheduled. An efficient MFP with the right settings uses far less energy than an older device left “fully on” 24/7.
Step 2: Choose Better Paper (Without Sacrificing Quality)
Settings are only half the story. Your paper choices have a huge impact on both the environment and your budget.
1. Look for Recycled and Certified Paper
When possible, choose:
Recycled content paper (ideally 30% or more post-consumer waste)
FSC-certified or similar sustainably sourced paper
Today’s recycled papers perform well in modern MFPs, with very little difference in quality for everyday use.
2. Don’t Over-Upgrade Weight and Brightness
Heavier, brighter paper looks and feels premium—but it’s not always necessary.
Use standard 20 lb or 24 lb paper for everyday jobs.
Save heavier or gloss stocks for brochures, client presentations, or marketing collateral.
Over-specifying paper for internal documents wastes money and resources without delivering real value.
3. Right-Size Your Paper Library
Too many paper types can create waste:
Old boxes sit on shelves and get damaged.
Staff grabs the wrong stock and reprints.
Specialty paper gets used for basic documents.
Standardize your paper types as much as possible. Keep a short list: one go-to for everyday use, one for client-facing documents, and one specialty stock if your workflow requires it.
For more background on sustainable paper choices and certifications, you can review this helpful overview of environmentally friendly printing practices.
Step 3: Make Smarter Choices on Toner, Ink, and Devices
Your supplies and hardware decisions also play a big role in your eco friendly printing strategy.
1. Use High-Yield Cartridges Where It Makes Sense
High-yield toner and ink cartridges:
Print more pages per unit
Reduce packaging waste
Require fewer deliveries and less storage space
They’re ideal for busy departments or devices that handle a high share of your total volume.
2. Recycle Cartridges and Consumables
No eco strategy is complete without a plan for end-of-life.
Use cartridge return and recycle programs.
Place clearly marked collection bins near print areas.
Include this in your onboarding or print policy so employees know what to do.
Carolina Business Technologies, Inc. can help you set up a simple, repeatable process for collecting and returning spent cartridges.
3. Consolidate to More Efficient Devices
Sometimes the greenest move is to print less on outdated hardware.
Older, small desktop printers often:
Use more energy
Require expensive cartridges
Offer fewer eco features (like duplex or secure print)
By consolidating to a few well-placed, energy-efficient MFPs, you can:
Reduce total devices
Streamline maintenance and supplies
Gain access to better print management and energy tools
This is where a print assessment from Carolina Business Technologies, Inc. pays off. We look at your current fleet, volume, and layout, then recommend changes that lower your total cost and environmental impact.
Step 4: Put It All Together in a Simple Print Policy
Technology alone doesn’t drive change—people do. Your eco friendly printing playbook should end with a clear, written policy that covers:
What prints in color vs. black-and-white
When to use duplex vs. single-sided
Which devices to use for which types of jobs
How to recycle paper and cartridges
Who to contact for printing questions or issues
Keep it short and practical. Post it near devices. Include it in employee orientation. When everyone understands the “why” and the “how,” adoption goes up and waste goes down.
How Carolina Business Technologies, Inc. Helps You Go Green
You don’t have to build this playbook alone.
Carolina Business Technologies, Inc. partners with businesses to:
Audit your current printing environment
Configure eco friendly defaults and print rules
Recommend the right devices for your volume and goals
Train your team on best practices and day-to-day use
Monitor usage over time and adjust as your business changes
Done right, eco friendly printing doesn’t just protect the environment—it makes your office more efficient, more secure, and more cost-effective.
If you’re ready to turn your printers and copiers into an asset instead of a headache, this playbook is your starting point. The next step is to look at your own settings, paper, and supplies—and decide where you want to see a change first.