Reduction Strategies

Printing

Printing from your Desktop | Printing with a Print Vendor

Printing from your desktop

1. Think first: do I need to print this?
   
   
2. Print double sided (duplex).
   
   
3. Use Print Preview (File Menu) to make sure you print what you want.
   
   
4. Adjusting your margins (File /Page Setup) can help you fit your work onto fewer sheets.
   
   
5. Excel (File /Print Preview /Page Break Preview) will allow you to get your spreadsheet onto one page rather than stretched over two.
   
   
6. If you print because you have difficulty reading on your screen, please ask your safety officer for assistance. New screens, wider monitors, screen adjustments, dual monitors, screens that prevent glare can help.
   
   
7. If you print to organize your work, consider using the Change Item Type Button with two red dots on Groupwise to send the email to a task list, an appointment, a reminder which will post to your GroupWise calendar.
   
   
8. If you print emails to delegate work to others, you can use Groupwise to delegate electronically.
   
   
9. Give yourself the gift of time: take a Groupwise, Word or Excel class to help you print less, save time and and paper by using your software most effectively.

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PaperCuts Training Event Printing Tips

This is an archive of the documents used as training materials for City of Seattle employees during PaperCuts Training Events.

• Herding Cats 3 - Printing Tips and Tricks | PPT | PDF



• Excellent Excel - Printing with Excel | PPT



• Web Wise Printing | PPT



• Lunch and Learn #7 - Paperwise Printing | PDF

Printing with a Vendor

Seattle print and copy vendors are contracted to use 100% recycled paper and to duplex print whenever possible in their work for city departments. Several City departments have used 100% recycled, heavier, glossy paper stock for annual reports to the community reports and the results have been excellent.

The print vendor checklist can help you plan the most environmentally responsible and cost effective print job for your project. Links at the bottom of this page provide other print planning and environmental resources.

SIZE

• Design for the least amount of paper used and paper wasted in printing. For mailers, size according to postage costs.

VOLUME

• Print on both sides.
• Limit copies.
• Save electronic files for reordering.

PAPER

• Request 100% post-consumer content or other high recycled content paper.
• Select the lowest paper weight suitable for the job.

LAYOUT

• Consider reducing margin widths and font size. Design for minimal ink coverage and avoid bleeds off the page. Use colored paper instead of coloring the sheet with ink.

LABELS

• Request water-based ink-jet labels or water-based adhesive labels.
• Print mailing information directly on envelopes or brochures (ask printer if this option is available).

MAILING

• Update mailing lists; delete duplicates.
• Mail only to targeted audiences.
• Eliminate envelope costs and waste by using business reply self-mailer surveys and response letters.
• Use electronic communication whenever possible.

• Lunch and Learn #1 - Paper Saving Tips From Print Shops | Agenda in Word format | Video of Session

Environmental information relating to printing:

• Printer's National Environmental Assistance Center Pollution Prevention Resource Center (workbook on printing at www.pprc.org/pubs/pubslist.cfm)



• The Minnesota State Environmental Initiative “Print Buyer Guidelines”



• Environmental Choice Program

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