Companies can contribute to a more sustainable Europe in a number of ways, for example:

• Developing environmentally responsible products and services,
• Reducing the carbon footprint of daily operations, and
• Cutting resource consumption

These can all have a lasting positive impact but I think there’s still more that can be done. I believe that businesses have to take responsibility to foster environmental awareness among their employees and partners, encouraging them to incorporate sustainability into their daily work. Much work is already happening and it’s clear that sustainability has risen up the agenda, but what may be more difficult is how to measure the impact of these initiatives.

Digital transformation

Digital transformation is one measure that can help to mitigate negative environmental impacts, improve productivity and cuts costs. Even a simple change, such as switching from paper to electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) can bring significant savings. Research commissioned by Ricoh revealed that companies pay 2.6 times less for receiving an electronic invoice than for its paper equivalent. In the long-term, the switchover from paper invoicing to e-invoicing could drive cost savings of €243 billion for businesses across Europe.

iWorkers are the breed of the future

Companies which have already launched a digital revolution in the office will be better prepared for a future shaped by ‘intelligent workers (iWorkers).This new breed of skilled employees thrive in a digitally-connected workplace, where they have 24/7 access to all the necessary information to meet the needs of the business and its clients. While another Ricoh-commissioned study found that only four per cent of business leaders considered the majority of their workforce to align with the iWorker definition, they expect this number to rise to 37 per cent by 2018.

The potential for a sustainable economy

The European Commission is encouraging companies to exploit the great economic potential of a sustainable economy. The global market for environmental goods and services is already worth around €1 trillion per year and this is expected to double by 2020. Forward-thinking business leaders are now preparing their organisations for the upcoming era of green growth because they have realised that sustainability is not a burden but a chance to improve their company’s overall performance, build consumers’ trust and drive profits.

Beginning a green transformation may seem daunting but with the right expert help, it’s possible to produce a sustainability roadmap that offers manageable steps for companies to take. Following an initial audit, you’ll get much better insight into where inefficiencies are and some proposals on how to find solutions to the challenges that are identified.

This is first step in exploring eco-improvements but it is important to keep monitoring progress to make sure your company stays on target with its green commitments. We have found that a systematic approach can bring significant results to both large multinationals and SMEs alike. This includes a considerable reduction in paper and electricity consumption, along with renewed motivation for employees to contribute to their company’s green goals.

A journey towards sustainable business

Remember, you’re not alone on your journey. There are many companies – large and small – who have already started this journey, which means there are some great examples out there to give you ideas. Our sustainability strategy at Ricoh followed three phases. It started with passive compliance and environmental regulation, where all the legal boxes are checked but there is no ambition to drive positive change. Next, the company’s leaders defined their own environmental goals and proactively implemented green practices, setting the bar above basic regulatory requirements. It is usually at the end of this phase that sustainability efforts start to pay off, boosting profits and performance. The ultimate destination of this journey was ‘the responsible stage – a rewarding turning point where ecological solutions and business strategy complement each other to drive economic benefits for the company, consumers, the environment and the wider economy.

All businesses have the potential to move from the passive to the responsible stage.

This transition is imperative in turning the Europe 2020 sustainability targets from a grand vision into reality. Now is the time for those lagging behind on green goals to join the sustainability revolution. Inspiring examples of environmental champions and encouragement from policymakers can position green growth as a compelling target for businesses. Going green is no longer a jump into the unknown, but a smart step towards a sustainable and profitable future.

To learn more about sustainable business, fill in the form to the right to download our Ricoh UK Responsible Business Report 2017.

The post Why sustainability continues to grow within European business appeared first on Insights.

As an environmental manager at Ricoh, I’m often asked how companies and large organisations can introduce more sustainable printing practices. I meet people from many different sectors and everyone is very aware of the need to embed sustainability into their company’s vision.

The key to successful sustainability practice is integration into the larger business strategy

When sustainability is integrated into your company’s mission statement or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan, this allows all stakeholders (management teams, employees, board of directors, even suppliers and customers) to be better aligned with broader corporate goals – both environmentally and economically.

Implementing sustainable programmes takes teamwork and experience. Our guide gives you 10 initial steps you can take, based on environmental best practice in document processes and printing, which will contribute to a larger corporate sustainability strategy.

And it can do more than just conserve energy: it can help control costs, increase productivity and reduce material waste.

Your 10-step guide to sustainable printing

1. Think e-documents over paper

Electronic document workflows reduce the amount of hard copy output. Use scan-to-email technology to distribute documents electronically, and store scanned documents in an electronic repository. If you do need to print, switch to use recycled paper.

2. Analyse and optimise the number of printers you need

By assessing usage patterns and where devices are placed in the office, you could minimise redundant or under-utilised copiers, fax machines and printers. Introduce more energy efficient multifunctional printers (MFPs) that copy, fax, print and scan wherever possible and limit the use of single function devices.

3. Asset management, recycle and responsible disposal

With good asset management processes in place, you can easily keep track and identify equipment that needs upgrading. Always look for environmentally-friendly ways to dispose of printers, fax machines and MFPs, including recycling toner cartridges and toner bottles.

4. Encourage sustainable habits

Employee behaviour is perhaps the single most important factor in successful environmental sustainability practices. A training and education programme will familiarise your employees with procedures to improve processes, eliminate waste and ultimately achieve performance targets.

5. Redirect printing to the most cost effective device

Rule-based printing automatically redirects print jobs to the most suitable output device to optimise energy consumption, ensure use of resource-saving features and control access to colour output. Maybe it means employees have to walk a few extra steps to collect their printing, but perhaps that not a bad thing either.

6. Minimise power consumption

Purchase or lease devices that exceed ‘Energy Star’ and other industry ratings. Most modern printers and MFDs have energy saving modes and ‘Quick Startup’ technology, which means they are put to sleep when they’re not being used. When set up correctly, this helps to reduce the amount of energy used and reduces costs.

7. Reduce paper usage

Turn on the paper-saving features in the hardware/software of your device – the user manual often explains what’s available but in most cases you can choose duplex/double-sided printing, combining print, lock printing and scanning. When you encourage electronic sharing of documents and document previewing, this can prevent unnecessary reprints.

8. Print on-demand

Use digital print technology to print corporate and marketing materials on-demand – where and when they are needed – instead of printing large volumes to then find something has changed and it’s redundant.

9. Re-set settings and save

High-speed duplex printing, toner saving modes, ‘print selected text’, even default toner selection settings can have a surprising impact on your paper, toner cartridges, and carbon footprint.

10. Measure, manage, optimise

Environmental initiatives, such as carbon offsets, cannot be implemented without accurate measurement and reporting. When it comes to print, the environmental programme must be designed for document processes that not only address reduction of overall energy consumption, hard copy output and CO2 footprint, but also include future recommendations.

Integrated real-time data reporting and monitoring tools that provide enterprise-wide visibility on sustainability performance are critical for documenting success and reinforcing achievements with stakeholders.

To learn more about sustainability in modern business, fill in the form to the right to download our Ricoh UK Responsible Business Report 2017.

The post Sustainable printing: 10 steps that will cut costs, reduce waste and increase productivity appeared first on Insights.