Introduction Sustainability is certainly the need of the hour. The world seems to be adapting to innovative ways that help combat climate change. From individuals to big companies, everyone is trying to lead a better, more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. However, there’s still a long way to go and adhering to an idealistic idea of eco-friendliness often hinders our work. (Sorry, Greta!) Printing is one such area but it’s something we cannot do without. However, there are small steps we can take to make printing amore eco-friendly. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the options available to us. Eco-friendly printers Eco-friendly printers are often made of recycled plastic and use non toxic material for their ink. These printers use organic neutralizing solutions and filters to avoid contaminating the local groundwater and soil. In fact, printers that come with a recognised ecolabel like Eco Mark require the manufacturers to meet certain standards related to emissions and energy consumption and are a great option for environmentally conscious folks. Eco friendly printers also serve more than just one purpose. These machines can scan, copy, and print digitally. Eco-friendly ink Most conventional printers use petroleum based ink that releases VOCs into their surroundings, which in turn adds to global warming. Plant-based ink and ink made from vegetable oils like soy or linseed aren’t only better for the environment, they also produce great quality print with vibrant colours. Not just that, petroleum also happens to be a non-renewable resource whereas plant based ink is renewable, cost effective, and healthier for the planet. Recycle Whenever we hear the word ‘recycle’, the first thing that comes to mind is paper. Recycled paper is accessible, affordable, and lately even carbon neutral. Carbon neutral papers are basically eco-friendly, provided by companies that support environmental projects and thereby offsetting the impact of carbon while creating paper. An alternative to regular paper is tree-free paper. This is made from agricultural waste and is a lot better for the environment. It’s also the same quality as regular paper. Did you know you can recycle much more than just paper? Plastic can be recycled too. The cartridges your ink comes in can be recycled. And your old printer? Instead of disposing of it, you can upgrade it, recycle its plastic parts, donate it, or even sell it! Conscious habits Developing habits like conserving energy or using devices with an Energy Star label are a couple of ways to be more environmentally conscious. A lot of the recent devices are equipped with energy saving modes which basically puts the device to ‘sleep’ when not in use. This helps in conserving power. One can also opt for cleaner energy sources, like solar energy or biogas energy. These sources are renewable and don’t pollute the planet. There are several ways one can be environmentally conscious, one of them is being informed and vigilant when going about our day to day life. One can read up, research, or even ask around about effective ways to become eco-friendly and implement these ideas at work and at home.