How to identify a more eco-friendly printer: 5 criteria that really matter
A printer does not become sustainable simply because the packaging says “Eco” or because its power consumption is low. For a meaningful comparison, the key factors are energy consumption, service life, consumables, paper consumption and the circularity of the entire system. These five criteria can help you determine before purchase whether a printer is suitable for a more resource-efficient printing routine in the long term.
- Energy & power management: Compare the power consumption of similar devices and look for effective sleep/standby functions.
- Service life & repairability: Check spare parts, maintenance components, drivers and long-term support.
- Consumables & lock-in: Consider page yield, ongoing costs, rebuilt options and possible subscription/firmware restrictions.
- Save paper: Automatic duplex printing and good support for recycled paper are among the most important features.
- Environmental labels & take-back: The Blue Angel, EPEAT where applicable, and transparent take-back programs can help with your choice.
Is there really such a thing as an “eco-friendly printer”?
Strictly speaking, “eco-friendly” is a simplification. Even a particularly efficient printer requires raw materials, electronics, energy, paper and consumables.
A more useful question is therefore:
A device that uses very little electricity but has to be replaced early is not automatically the most sustainable choice.
Likewise, a printer with a refillable tank system is not automatically the best solution for every household if only a few pages are printed each year.
The most important step is therefore: The device and printing technology must match the actual printing profile.
You can find a detailed overview of the overall environmental impact of printers here: How harmful are printers to the environment really? →
1. Energy consumption & power management
Power consumption is one of the most obvious environmental criteria for a printer. However, you should not look only at maximum power draw.
The following are particularly relevant:
- consumption during typical operation,
- sleep/energy-saving mode,
- network standby,
- automatic shutdown,
- time until the device switches to an energy-saving state.
Comparing TEC values correctly
For certain printers, a TEC value – Typical Electricity Consumption value is specified. It is intended to represent typical energy consumption in a defined usage scenario.
TEC values should primarily be used to compare reasonably similar devices and device classes. Not every printing technology is assessed using the same measurement method.
ENERGY STAR, for example, distinguishes between the TEC method for certain devices and the so-called Operational Mode method for other printing technologies.
Putting ENERGY STAR into context in Europe
ENERGY STAR remains an international energy-efficiency program and also certifies printers and multifunction devices.
For buyers in Germany, however, it is important to know that the former joint EU-US ENERGY STAR program for office equipment ended back in 2018.
The US ENERGY STAR label can therefore provide additional energy information, but it is not a current standalone EU energy label for printers.
For Germany, first look for the Blue Angel and the specific consumption data for the model in question first. ENERGY STAR can be considered as supplementary information.
2. Service life, maintenance & repairability
One of the most important environmental factors is often overlooked when buying: How long can the device be used effectively?
Manufacturing a new printer also requires raw materials, energy and transport. A long-lasting printer can therefore make more ecological sense than a cheap device that has to be replaced early.
Check before buying
Spare parts
Are common wear parts and spare parts available over the long term?
Maintenance components
Can the fuser unit, waste toner container, drum or maintenance kit be replaced when needed?
Drivers & firmware
Is there long-term support for current operating systems and security updates?
Modularity
Does an entire larger assembly have to be replaced because of a single wear part?
Maintenance access
Can paper jams and typical maintenance tasks be handled without unnecessary disassembly?
Cloud dependency
Do important basic functions remain usable without a permanent subscription or cloud service?
3. Consumables, page yield & lock-in
When buying a printer, you should not look only at the device price. Over several years, toner, ink, drums and other wear parts can account for a significant share of both costs and material consumption.
These questions are more important than “original or compatible?”
- What page yields do the available cartridges offer?
- Are XL or high-yield versions available?
- Are the toner and drum separate components?
- Are genuine rebuilt/remanufactured products available?
- How does the return of empty cartridges work?
- Are there chip or firmware dependencies?
- Is use tied to a subscription, account or specific consumables?
A newly manufactured compatible cartridge is not automatically more sustainable than a new original cartridge. The particular resource advantage arises mainly where existing products are actually reused or professionally remanufactured.
We explain the difference between original, refill, rebuilt and newly manufactured compatible toner in detail here:
Rebuilt toner vs. original: sustainability fact check →
Check for lock-in before buying
Modern printers can electronically authenticate consumables. Depending on the system, chips, firmware and in some cases account or cloud functions may play a role.
Anyone who wants to remain flexible with toner and ink over the long term should check such conditions before purchase or activation .
More on this: Chips, firmware & printer lock-in →
4. Save paper: Duplex & Recyclingpapier
An environmentally conscious printer purchase should not focus only on the device. The paper consumed later also needs to be taken into account.
For printing systems used regularly, paper can account for a significant share of the overall environmental impact.
Automatic duplex printing
That is why automatic duplex printing is one of the most useful features of a more sustainable office printer.
It is not enough for duplex printing to be technically possible. Ideally, it should be possible to set it as the default profile.
Other helpful features
- multiple pages per sheet,
- printing selected page ranges,
- draft/economy mode,
- grayscale profile,
- savable print profiles,
- reliable handling of recycled paper.
A good office printer should be able to handle common recycled papers and standard paper weights without problems. An environmental label such as the Blue Angel can also help when buying paper.
5. Environmental labels, take-back & circularity
Individual technical specifications are useful. Environmental labels, however, have one advantage: they consider several criteria at the same time.
Blue Angel: particularly relevant in Germany
In 2026, a new generation of criteria for more eco-friendly printers and multifunction devices was published: DE-UZ 239.
It includes, among other things:
- low energy consumption,
- low emissions,
- noise,
- material selection,
- design for recycling,
- minimum proportions of recycled plastics.
Applications under the new generation of criteria can be submitted from January 2027 .
Devices certified under the older generation of criteria may currently still carry the Blue Angel. An older DE-UZ certificate is therefore not automatically worthless.
EPEAT: particularly interesting for businesses
EPEAT also evaluates products in the category Imaging Equipment.
The criteria cover, among other things, circularity, material use, remanufacturing of consumables, take-back systems and other sustainability aspects.
EPEAT is usually less prominent for private buyers. For IT departments, larger fleets and procurement tenders, however, it can provide useful additional guidance.
Clarify take-back options before buying
Even the best cartridge is of little use if there is no practical return route at the end.
Therefore, check:
- does the manufacturer take back empty modules?
- does the retailer offer a take-back system?
- are cartridges actually remanufactured or merely recycled/recovered?
- are there clear acceptance criteria?
More about circularity: Take-back, reuse and recycling of toner cartridges →
Environmental labels and certifications at a glance
| Label | Focus | How useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Angel | Energy, emissions, materials, design for recycling and other environmental criteria | Very helpful for buyers in Germany. Considers more than just power consumption. |
| EPEAT | Life cycle, materials, circularity and supply chain | Particularly useful for professional IT procurement and tenders. |
| ENERGY STAR | Energy efficiency and power management | Still useful internationally, but no longer a joint EU-US program since 2018. |
Page yield, maintenance materials, spare-parts availability, printing profile and actual service life remain decisive.
10-point buying checklist: Is this printer a more sustainable choice?
- Does the device size match my print volume?
- Does the device have automatic duplex printing?
- How low are sleep and standby power consumption?
- Can I replace common wear parts separately?
- How long does the manufacturer provide drivers, firmware and support?
- What page yields do the toner or ink cartridges offer?
- Are rebuilt, refill or other reuse options available?
- Is there a technical or contractual lock-in?
- Is there a recognized environmental label?
- How do take-back and recycling work at the end of the product life cycle?
Conclusion: A more sustainable printer proves its quality over the years
Power consumption is important – but it is only one part of the environmental footprint.
A well-chosen printer should be usable for a long time, maintainable, efficient and as flexible as possible .
The following are therefore particularly important:
- appropriate sizing,
- good power management,
- automatic duplex printing,
- long-term availability of spare parts and software support,
- transparent consumables costs,
- as little unnecessary lock-in as possible,
- and functioning take-back and circular systems.
FAQ: Buying more eco-friendly printers
Which printer is the most eco-friendly?
There is no single printer type that is universally the most eco-friendly. Print volume, service life, electricity and paper consumption, consumables, maintenance and take-back options are decisive. The device should match the actual use case.
Is the Blue Angel important for printers?
Yes. The Blue Angel considers several environmental aspects at the same time, including energy consumption, emissions, materials and design for recycling. In 2026, a new generation of criteria, DE-UZ 239, was published.
What is DE-UZ 239?
DE-UZ 239 is the new generation of Blue Angel criteria for more eco-friendly printers and multifunction devices, published in 2026. Applications under these criteria can be submitted from January 2027.
Is ENERGY STAR still relevant for printers?
ENERGY STAR continues to exist as an international and US energy-efficiency program. However, the joint EU-US program for office equipment ended in 2018. For buyers in Germany, the Blue Angel is therefore often the more practical environmental guide.
Can I directly compare TEC values from different printers?
Only with caution. TEC is mainly suitable for comparing similar devices or device classes. Different printing technologies may be assessed using different energy measurement methods.
Is a printer using compatible cartridges automatically more sustainable?
No. A compatible cartridge may also be entirely newly manufactured. A particular resource advantage mainly comes from genuine reuse, for example professional rebuilding or remanufacturing.
Why is duplex printing an environmental criterion?
Because automatic double-sided printing can significantly reduce paper consumption for suitable documents. In frequently used printing systems, paper can account for a significant share of the environmental impact.
Is EPEAT also relevant for printers?
Yes. EPEAT continues to include the Imaging Equipment product category. The criteria cover various environmental and circularity aspects. EPEAT is often particularly relevant for professional IT procurement and tenders.
What should I check about toner and ink before buying?
Page yield, XL/high-yield versions, cost per page, take-back options, rebuilt options and possible technical or contractual restrictions should be checked before buying.
Sources & further information
- Blue Angel: Eco-friendly printers and multifunction devices – DE-UZ 239
- ENERGY STAR: Imaging Equipment
- ENERGY STAR: Imaging Equipment – Key Product Criteria
- European Commission / JRC: Information on the former EU-US cooperation on the ENERGY STAR program and its end in February 2018.
- EPEAT: EPEAT Criteria – Imaging Equipment
Updated: August 31, 2026. Environmental labels, product programs and technical specifications can change. Therefore, always verify certifications for the specific model.
