Celebrating Earth Day: save energy and waste with these design hacks

Earth Day puts sustainability in the spotlight, so it’s the perfect moment to take a closer look at your print choices.

Sustainable printing isn’t about one big action. It’s built on a series of small, thoughtful choices across every stage of the process. Use these simple design tips to reduce waste and save energy in your next print project.

1. Choose the right size (not bigger than you need)

You can make a big impact right at the start of your project. Begin with the basics: what size does your end result actually need to be? By choosing a smaller format, you immediately reduce material usage per item – without compromising your message.

It’s a simple way to make a more sustainable choice from the very beginning, before you’ve even selected your materials.

2. Go for recycled or lower-impact materials

The material you choose plays a huge role in how sustainable your print product is. Some materials simply require more raw resources and energy to produce than others.

Paper is already a strong sustainable option, especially when using FSC certified stocks, but processes like bleaching can increase its environmental impact due to the use of chemicals and extra energy used.

That’s why it’s worth considering unbleached or recycled papers such as our Rebello®, BalancePure®, or lower-impact materials like FOREX®re, Dispa, Re-board, rPET or Flag PET.

Unsure about your choice? With our 5 Leaf Score, you can see at a glance how green a material is. And with the CO₂ monitor you can instantly check the impact of your order.

3. Paper Hack

Want a premium look without extra weight? Then choose papers that are thicker to the touch, especially uncoated papers like Gmund Cotton cotton paper. The fibre structure makes this paper feel thicker and softer than coated paper.

4. Standard sizes work well

Stick to standard formats like A3, A4, A5 or A6 (or the B series)! These fit neatly on a print sheet and help reduce waste. Think of it like a puzzle: the better everything lines up, the less gets left over.

Bespoke sizes or die-cuts can be a great creative choice when the idea calls for it, but just be aware they usually create more offcuts.

5. Order exactly what you need

More is not always better. With inkjet and digital print in our web app, you can order the exact quantity you need – no need to round to 500 or 1,000. If you need 540, you can print 540.

This helps avoid surplus stock sitting unused. What you don’t print, you don’t need to waste.

6. Check your file and avoid reprints

Just double-checking pays off. Making sure your file is right first time helps avoid errors and unnecessary reprints.

Look out for things like spelling mistakes, overprint issues, bleed/cutting margins and font problems. And if you can, get someone else to cast an eye over it too, a fresh pair of eyes always helps.

The most sustainable print is the one that gets approved first time.

7. Be mindful with finishes

Extra finishes can look great, but they do have an impact. Lamination and other coatings can make recycling more difficult, so it’s worth using them where they really add value or extend the life of the product.

If something is designed to be kept, lamination can be a good choice to help it last longer and reduce the need for printing again in the near-future.

8. Design with intention

Design with longevity in mind. The most sustainable print is often the one people want to keep.

Think about creating print that lives beyond the moment: designs people pin up, reuse, or return to again and again, helping quietly build your brand in the background. A flyer that doubles as a poster, or a beautifully designed postcard worth keeping, can extend the life of your print and reduce waste without losing impact.

At the same time, small design choices help make a difference too. Avoid large solid areas where possible – for example, full-page backgrounds in black or other colours use more ink and energy.

Think of it as adding smart details on top, not the foundation of your sustainable approach.

Tip us your green design hacks

The biggest impact doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from making smarter choices. With a few thoughtful decisions at the right stage, you can make a real difference without changing your whole process.

Want some green samples?

We’ve creating our 50 Shades of Green sample box, a curated collection that lets you see, touch, and feel a wide range of our more sustainable product options. Complete this form and you’ll be among the first to receive our green sample box.

Want to know more about our green print journey?

Check out 50 Shades of Green 💚 for all our current news and updates Or drop us a line on your thoughts, your idea might just make it into the next edition!

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20 April 2026