Sustainable Printing
Reducing paper waste across research, teaching, and administration
Why it matters
Printing plays a significant role in Trinity’s environmental footprint. By making more conscious choices, we can reduce waste, lower emissions, and support Trinity’s sustainability goals.
Think Before You Print
Before printing, pause and ask:
- Do I need a printed copy, or will digital work?
- Can this be shared electronically?
- Is this the most up-to-date version?
✅ Choosing not to print is the most effective way to reduce impact.
Go Digital First
Adopting digital tools helps reduce reliance on paper:
- Use shared drives and cloud storage (e.g. OneDrive, SharePoint)
- Share documents electronically instead of printing
- Use collaborative platforms for real-time editing
Benefits
- 🌍 Reduced environmental impact
- 💸 Lower printing costs
- 🔄 Easier updates and version control
When You Need to Print
Sometimes printing is necessary — when it is:
Print Smarter
- Set printers to duplex (double-sided) by default
- Print multiple pages per sheet where possible
- Avoid colour unless essential
Choose Better Materials
- Use recycled paper for department printing
- Select lower-weight paper where suitable
Close the Loop
- Dispose of all paper in designated recycling bins
- Avoid contamination (e.g. food waste in paper bins)
- Reuse scrap paper for drafts and notes
Understanding the Impact
Paper Production
- High energy and water use
- Linked to global deforestation
Printing Costs
- Paper, ink, toner and maintenance add up over time
Digital Isn’t Perfect
Digital solutions also have impacts:
- ⚡ Energy use from data centres
- ♻️ Growing electronic waste
➡️ The goal is balance: reduce unnecessary printing while using digital tools responsibly
Take Action Today
✔ Reduce unnecessary printing
✔ Switch to duplex by default
✔ Use recycled materials
✔ Recycle correctly
✔ Share this guidance with colleagues and students