Managed Print Services is critical to a green IT strategy

Managed print services (MPS) are one method which IT departments are employing to reduce their carbon footprint. MPS not only streamlines a company’s management of their printer and copier fleet and optimises their print infrastructure; it also reduces costs and improves employee productivity.

Companies complying with the pressures of customers, investors, the government and climate change to operate a more sustainable business can have a positive financial impact.

New sales can be lost from not having the right environmental credentials or green working practices. Additionally high operating costs due to inefficient energy consumption and wastage can have a bearing on selling prices and therefore competitive advantage.

Environmental measures are being implemented across all departments within an organisation and the IT department can have a significant effect on levels of energy consumption and therefore carbon emissions.

Managed print services (MPS) are one method which IT departments are employing to reduce their carbon footprint. MPS not only streamlines a company’s management of their printer and copier fleet and optimises their print infrastructure; it also reduces costs and improves employee productivity.

A managed print solution can help businesses achieve a sustainable print and copy environment by:

Consolidating devices

Replacing several single function machines with one multi-function printer (MFP) reduces running costs including energy consumption and time and resources required to manage them.

Deploying energy efficient products

Many manufacturers have achieved energy performance accreditations such as Energy Star for their products. These energy-saving features can include faster warm up times, low power states when not in use and shut down at specified times of non-use, which can reduce energy consumption by half, when compared to standard models.

Reducing paper wastage

Implementing responsible printing practices such as duplex/double-sided and booklet printing can reduce paper usage. Pull and PIN printing not only improves confidentiality and security of documents but also minimises misprinting, reprinting and unclaimed print jobs.

Digitising documents

By using a networked MFP, documents can be scanned, stored and shared electronically resulting in reduced paper usage and increased productivity.

Encouraging use of environmentally friendly printer consumables

Production of paper has had an effect on global climate change with eight per cent of the world’s trees cut down for this purpose. Many companies are now switching to recycled or sustainably sourced paper.

Xerox has even developed Solid Ink which generates up to 90% less printing waste because there are no cartridges to dispose of and less packaging to add to landfills and it is certified to contain 30% bio-derived renewable material by the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM).

Implementing recycling programmes

Most manufacturers offer environmentally friendly ways to dispose of and recycle consumables and old machines and this is an important consideration in a sustainable print strategy.

Managed print services allows businesses to add another element to their corporate social responsibilities (CSR), whilst also improving control and visibility, increasing staff productivity and ultimately driving down costs.

Visit www.zenofficemps.com to find out how easy it is to introduce managed print services into your organisation.

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