3 paper waste reduction strategies in large format printing

Architecture, engineering, and construction firms that regularly produce large sets of drawings and revisions use substantial amounts of paper. But many overlook the ongoing expense of paper waste related to errors and miscalculations. Each misprint, poorly arranged layout, or unused offcuts contributes to higher material costs and increased environmental impact. Over time, these small inefficiencies add up to develop costly waste expenses. Strategies to reduce paper waste in printing can tackle concerns about rising expenses and help firms meet sustainability initiatives.

As clients and project partners increasingly seek companies that follow eco-conscious practices, improvements in printing will become a necessary practice to reduce waste. In this article, we'll outline three effective strategies to minimise paper waste in large format environments. By optimising your print process and leveraging features built into HP DesignJet printers, your team can print smarter, reduce rework, and support long-term sustainability goals.

Why Reducing Paper Waste Matters in AEC Printing

Paper waste seems like a minor issue in an environment where the slightest mistake can lead to costly rework, or even worse, dangerous structural errors. But mitigating the financial and environmental impact is essential, especially when solutions to reduce paper waste printing exist.

The Financial and Environmental Impact of Excess Waste

The true cost of producing a single print goes beyond the cost of materials alone to include electricity consumption, labour, printer depreciation, and maintenance expenses. Every misprint results in a duplication of those expenses, creating unnecessary printing waste that can account for up to 30% of printing costs in poorly managed operations.

Waste paper contributes to 19% of the total municipal solid waste in the Philippines, making it the second-largest source of solid waste. When landfills across the country are exceeding their limits, striving to reduce paper waste in printing is a crucial contributor to addressing the landfill overload crisis.

Sustainability Goals in Architecture and Engineering

The Philippines is at the forefront in integrating sustainability into construction. Along with innovative design solutions for resilience against natural disasters and urban planning and development, Filipino architects and engineers are embracing sustainable processes to reduce energy consumption and have lower carbon footprints. Reducing paper waste contributes to diminished waste at the workflow level, helping close the loop in achieving sustainability goals.

Strategy 1: Optimise Layouts and Use Print Preview Tools

A major portion of paper waste in the AEC industry can be attributed to errors that make prints inaccurate or unusable. Professionals who optimise modern printer software can reduce or even eliminate misprints in the printing process.

How Smart Layout Software Minimises Waste

Architectural printers are designed to produce highly accurate drawings and prints with accuracy and precision within 0.1%. When these devices are used with compatible design and modelling software, accuracy is further enhanced, improving clarity and colour fidelity.

Avoiding Misprints Through Plot Previews

Plot previews are also a great way to ensure your prints align with your expectations. Using the preview will allow you to check the layout, scale, and content of the document and then make necessary adjustments before printing.

Strategy 2: Use the Right Print Mode for the Job

Using the right print mode for your specific print job will help you reduce material consumption and avoid misprints. Modern large format printers offer multiple features to align print modes with intended results.

Draft Mode vs High-Quality Mode

Understanding the difference between draft mode and high-quality mode is vital to getting the results you expect when producing a clear print. Draft mode can be used to produce prints in the planning phase. It produces lower-quality prints that lack fine details and include placeholder information. High-quality mode is essential for printing final prints with precise measurements, intricate details, and an appealing finish.

Matching Print Settings to Project Requirements

Printer settings can be used to match the final quality of the print to the intention of the image. Take the following steps when optimising print settings for large-scale images:

• Set print quality to draft, normal, or high-quality based on your project specifications.
• Adjust the colour balance, saturation, and contrast to match the desired output.
• Select the paper profile that matches your media selection.
• Match the printer's resolution to your image resolution for optimal quality.

Strategy 3: Recycle Offcuts and Implement Print Policies

Recycling and workflow guidelines can help reduce paper waste in printing practices. By finding ways to reuse paper waste and creating guidelines that support waste reduction, you can then reduce paper waste more effectively.

Practical Ways to Reuse and Recycle Paper Waste

Educating staff about proper recycling procedures and partnering with recycling service providers can eliminate the paper waste created by offcuts and remaining paper waste. Tracking recycling metrics and success rates will help you optimise your recycling programs for the highest rates of success.

Creating Office Guidelines for Sustainable Printing

Setting required guidelines for eco-friendly printing can help reduce paper waste in printing practices on every print job. Begin by identifying the causes of paper waste and considering new workflow steps to eliminate those issues. Potential process improvements could include the following:

• Document procedures and guidelines for eco-friendly printing to reduce waste.
• Develop a checklist for sustainable printing workflows that includes utilising optimal print settings and using previews.
• Create rules for recycling leftover waste.
• Recognise and reward successful waste reduction achievements.

How HP DesignJet Printers Support Eco-Efficient Printing

As a leader in global eco-friendly printing initiatives, HP produces large format printers and plotters for the AEC industry with many features to reduce waste.

Built-in Waste Reduction Features

Waste reduction features in HP printers are designed to minimise errors and avoid reprints. Features include:

• Automatic media sensing and alignment
• Ink usage optimisation systems
• Intelligent nesting algorithms
• Print preview capabilities

Support for HP Planet Partners and Eco Media

HP helps businesses repurpose and recycle HP products through the HP Planet Partners program. All you need to do is dispose of your end-of-use hardware at an HP IT Asset Disposition Service. HP will then provide a quote to cover any residual value and recycle products responsibly.

HP also encourages printing on eco-conscious media by identifying media that fulfils specific applications. Check the detailed information in the HP Media Locator to find out the environmental characteristics of an identified eco-conscious media.

Long-Term Savings Through Smart Technology

HP's commitment to sustainable design and eco-friendly printing features for businesses helps AEC firms save money over time by reducing energy consumption, minimising printing errors, using recycled media, and recycling end-of-life products. Utilising features like varied printing modes and plot preview can help teams avoid misprints, substantially reducing paper waste.

Print Smarter and Greener With HP DesignJet

Utilising modern printer features and adopting eco-friendly printing workflows can help your AEC firm improve large format print efficiency and substantially reduce paper waste, thereby cutting costs and meeting organisational sustainability goals. At HP, we're committed to creating innovative technologies and solutions that make a positive impact on the environment. Contact us today to learn how HP DesignJet wide format printers and plotters can help you reduce paper waste in printing practices.