I choose economic printing options

Grenn Office
  1. I print documents on recycled paper.

  2. I opt for standard 8.5" x 11" paper to reduce waste during printing.

  3. I print double-sided when the software and applications offer this option.

    • First, I check that the printer has a double-sided print option and that my software or applications accept double-sided printing;
    • Next, I make sure my computer is programmed to print double-sided by default1 (one-sided printing can always be selected manually).

  4. If my personal printer doesn't have the double-sided print option, I can always program my printer to print double-sided manually. I can opt to print only the even pages, then turn the pages over and print the odd pages.

  5. Before I print an entire document, I make sure to print only the text I need by specifying the page numbers.

  6. If I have to print an e-mail, I make sure I don't waste paper by choosing the Print Preview function, by deleting unneeded spaces and by reducing the signature to just the name.

  7. If I have to print a PowerPoint presentation, I select the option to print several slides per page. Before I do this, I must select "Document" mode in order to select the number of slides I want to print.

  8. In Word, I use the option that allows me to print two document pages on one sheet of paper. That way I kill two birds with one stone and not only reduce my paper consumption, but make my document lighter and easier to carry.

  9. If the appearance of the document allows, I reduce the font size and margins in order to reduce the number of pages I have to print.

  10. I adjust my Excel software parameters to print tables on one page by selecting File/Print Preview/Page Break Preview.

1. For those who use Windows XP, here's a simplified version:
  • Click on Start and select Printers and Faxes;
  • Right click on your printer and then on Properties;
  • Select Printing Preferences;
  • In the Print on Both Sides box, click on Flip on Long Edge, Apply and then OK;
  • Repeat these steps for all the printers you use.


If you save a document after printing several copies of it, it may keep the same number of copies in memory. Anyone printing it after you could accidentally print as many copies as you did.

Money working for people

Les grands prix Québécois de la qualité - Grand Prix 2007