Concern for the environment is having a major impact on office working habits, finds research.

According to a study of 800 office workers by Toshiba Tec, 57% of office workers often or always decide not to print out documents out of concern for the environment.

One in four respondents would be more likely to print out documents if printing was carbon-free.

The research suggests that UK businesses face a particular challenge in balancing the environmental concerns of their workers with the fact that many (25%) still prefer to commit business documents and emails to paper, rather than reading them on screen.

Of those office workers who ever print at work, nearly half (48%) regularly print out important emails while 38% print out maps and directions.

Steve Hewson, marketing director of Toshiba Tec says, ‘Office workers want to print out important documents – yet are sufficiently worried about the environmental impact of printing, that they are compromising their effectiveness at work.

‘Given that one in four office workers would be more likely to print out documents if printing was carbon-free, businesses need to prove their green credentials and address the concerns we found in the workplace.’

See also: Wasteful printing is costing SMEs