Most of the small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are keen to reduce the environmental impact of printing and have an environmental strategy in place, says a survey by Ipsos and Lexmark International. 

Questioning more than 1,400 companies with up to 250 employees in seven countries, the study found that although SMBs were aware of the impact of paper on the environment, but their good intentions were not necessarily being put into practice.

Six out of 10 (61 per cent) SMBs noted an increase in the volume of printing compared to two years ago. Just 17 per cent of companies reported a reduction in the number of printed pages.

To reduce their impact on the environment, they said they were ready to commit to switching off electronic equipment (96 per cent), recycling cartridges (93 per cent), and reading documents on screen instead of on paper (93 per cent).

Some had already enforced two-sided printing (18 per cent).

The study concluded that overall reduction in printing was due to an increase in electronic communication (58 per cent), rather than greater awareness of cost or environmental impact (6 per cent).

’SMBs should realize that reducing costs and implementing environmental strategies often share the same tactics and outcome,’ said Francois Feuillet, general manager, Lexmark Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service