Practicing environmentally sustainable printing in the office isn’t just a selfless sacrifice for the good of the world—it can also make you more money.
Right now, you may be thinking this sounds too good to be true, but let’s take a look at some facts before you click away:
Fact 1: Enacting a sustainable strategy for your business can reduce operating costs by as much as 60%.
This cost reduction comes from a combination of factors related to sustainable practices: increased revenue, tax incentives, increased brand loyalty, and investment opportunities.
Fact 2: The U.S government offers bonus depreciation for the use of qualified equipment or machinery, and they also supply tax credits and grants of up to 30%.
With all these facts on your side, why not try going green?
One easy way to practice sustainability in the office is to choose an eco-friendly printer that can handle your company’s print volume.
Our printing specialists at STPT have been in the business for over 40 years and know what to look in environmentally friendly printers. Let us walk you through the process of assessing eco-friendly printers, so you know which features to look for when you want to cash in on the benefits of sustainable business practices.
In this article, we’ll list five of the best eco-friendly printers on the market in 2024 and explain what makes these printers good options for sustainable printing so you can choose the right eco-friendly printer for your small office or business.
For more info on printer options and how to choose the machine that's right for your business:
Top 4 Best Eco Friendly Printers for Small Offices
1. Xerox C235 Color Multifunction Printer
Basic Specifications:
• Print Speed: Up to 24 pages per minute (ppm)
• Recommended Monthly Print Volume: Up to 1,500 pages
• Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 30,000 pages
• Base Model Dimensions: 16.2” x 15.5” x 13.6”
• Base Model Weight: Around 43 pounds
• Cost: Starting around $400
The Xerox C235 is a great choice for environmentally friendly printing for a few reasons. As a multifunction printer, it supports scanning and digital printing practices. The C235 allows you to print and scan from smartphones, laptops, tablets, Chromebooks, and desktops, maximizing the number of digital devices you can print from in the office.
With automatic duplex (two-sided) printing, this printer also helps reduce paper and toner waste and associated costs by decreasing the amount of paper and toner used per print.
The Xerox C235 is certified as being environmentally sustainable by EPEAT and Energy Star, and with the Xerox Green World Alliance program, you can easily recycle all your print supplies.
Weighing about 43 pounds with dimensions of 16.2” x 15.5” x 13.6”, the Xerox C235 fits in compact spaces and would be suitable for a small office environment. Its high monthly duty cycle makes the C235 a good option for a small office or workgroup.
Photo courtesy of Xerox
2. Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Color Multifunction Printer
Basic Specifications:
• Print Speed: Up to 10 pages per minute (ppm)
• Recommended Monthly Print Volume: 500 pages
• Monthly Duty Cycle: 3,000 pages
• Base Model Dimensions: 4.8" x 22.8" x 10.0"
• Base Model Weight: 11 lbs
• Cost: Around $300
This Epson EcoTank ET-4800 has easy-to-use settings and its ink tank is designed to last for up to 2 years without needing to be replaced, making it a great option for a smaller office that wants to become more environmentally sustainable. The ink tank saves money on replacement costs for at least the first two years of use.
The Epson EcoTank has a monthly print volume that is relatively low, meaning this would not be a good choice for a medium or large sized office. Due to its relatively low monthly print volume, this printer would be best for a small office without large printing demands or a home office.
Epson, like Xerox, is considered a global player in environmental sustainability, and their EcoTanks are designed with heat-free technology. At around $300, this printer is also the cheapest on the list.
While the ink tank can save you money, this inkjet printer has to be used consistently. If you are only printing a page or two once a month or less, then the ink can dry up, which would increase your replacement costs overall.
Photo courtesy of Epson.
3. Kyocera ECOSYS M2040dn Monochrome Multifunction Printer
Basic Specifications:
• Print Speed: Up to 40 ppm
• Recommended Monthly Print Volume: unspecified
• Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 80,000 pages
• Base Model Dimensions: 47.4 cm x 41.1 cm x 43.7 cm
• Base Model Weight: 41.9 lbs
• Cost: Around $550
Like several of the other printers on this list, the Kyocera Ecosys M2040 is multifunctional and supports digital print environments. Because of this, you can achieve environmental sustainability by removing the need to print more than necessary. Think of the common phrase: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." Reduce is listed first because it creates the most powerful impact.
The Kyocera Ecosys is a monochrome printer, meaning you can only create black and white images. While this may be a drawback for some, it’s a perfect solution for an office that works primarily with technical documents that don’t require color, like a medical office or law firm.
This focus on black and white printing reduces the overall need for ink, and it also limits the need for the excess plastic used in ink and toner containers, resulting in a more sustainable and eco-friendly model with long term benefits for users.
Photo Courtesy of Kyocera
4. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdn Printer
Basic Specifications:
• Print Speed: Up to 35 ppm
• Recommended Monthly Print Volume: 750 – 4,000 pages
• Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 50,000 pages
• Base Model Dimensions: 16.6” x 17.1” x 15.1”
• Base Model Weight: 45 lbs
• Cost: Around $700
The HP answer to the EcoTanks and Ecosys models, the new LaserJet Pro 4301fdn is meant to be an environmentally friendly version of the beloved HP LaserJet Pro series printers.
While still not quite as fast as the Xerox C235, the LaserJet Pro 4301fdn features fast print speeds and small dimensions that make it suitable for small office printing.
With duplex printing and an EPEAT silver certification, this printer is a good option for a workplace looking to maximize environmental sustainability practices. It also meets the requirements of HP’s IT Eco Declaration.
At $700, this printer is the most expensive on our list.
Photo Courtesy of HP
Note: If you are doing a lot of printing, then it is better to consolidate into a larger model printer. This helps protect the environment and saves money on printing costs overtime for your business.
Need Some Paper to Go With That Printer?
Sustainable business operations sometimes require multiple approaches to environmental sustainability.
Our print experts at STPT want to help you get the best results from your eco-friendly initiatives, so for more information on the best eco-friendly printer paper on the market right now, click the graphic below or check out one of our other blogs to learn more about sustainable printing practices in the office:
• 5 Steps to Sustainable Printing
• 4 Reasons Your Office Should Go Paperless
• A Comprehensive Guide to Going Paperless (2023)
If you’d rather talk to a professional about your concerns or questions:
