Rising pressure on costs, carbon , security and control is forcing accountancy firms to take a closer look at print. For one firm, a circular-first managed print strategy helped avoid 50 tonnes of CO₂e, cut energy use by 77% and enable a more secure, agile and sustainable print environment.

For many firms, print and document services has not been a top priority for review, but that is changing. Rising costs, tighter governance and security on documents and data, greater focus on operational efficiency and productivity and a growing pressure to evidence carbon reduction are forcing firms to reassess areas once left in the background. Managed print and document workflow is one of them, and when joined up properly, the positive impact in time, money and waste reduction is significant.

Accountancy is often seen as a traditional sector, particularly when it comes to operational infrastructure. Print is a good example. For many firms, it remains a background function that is only reviewed when something goes wrong, a contract is up for renewal or the business scales.

That approach is becoming harder to justify. Multiple suppliers, ageing devices, fragmented contracts and inconsistent user experience are creating unnecessary cost and risk.

At the same time, firms are looking for tighter control. Control over cost. Control over data. Control over carbon.

This is where a re-evaluation of a firms managed print services really can add up to a compelling case for change.

Agilico’s dedicated Professional Services team can help you benchmark your current estate and document services and processes whilst helping you understand what might be possible to support a compelling case for change.

The hidden cost of traditional print estates

‍Many print environments have evolved without a clear strategy. Devices are added over time, contracts roll on, and usage patterns shift without any corresponding optimisation.

The result is often an estate that is larger than necessary, consumes more energy than expected, and carries ongoing maintenance costs that are difficult to track. For firms operating across multiple sites or hybrid working models, this inefficiency is amplified and the inconsistencies a challenge to users and IT alike.

There is also a lack of visibility. Without centralised oversight and, firms often cannot clearly see who is printing what, where and why or indeed control behaviour and costs. This also introduces risk, particularly where sensitive financial data is involved.

Alongside this sits a growing carbon challenge. The emissions generated during the manufacture and transport of new devices form part of a firm’s Scope 3 footprint. For firms reporting against net zero commitments or responding to client ESG requirements, this is becoming harder to ignore.

A more sustainable approach to managed print
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A circular approach offers a more direct way to address both cost and carbon. Instead of defaulting to new hardware, firms can deploy, certified remanufactured multifunctional devices as part of a forward thinking, managed service.

In partnership with Canon, Ricoh and Konica, these devices are rebuilt, tested and certified to perform to the same standard as new equipment, but with significantly lower environmental impact. Independent lifecycle analysis shows that remanufacturing can produce up to 97.5% less CO₂e than manufacturing new devices.

Alongside this, managed print services reduce the overall size of the fleet, improve device utilisation and remove unnecessary infrastructure such as on-site servers through cloud enabled, agile and secure print enablement.

Crucially, those true zero trust cloud enabled print services, also introduce greater governance and control of your documents and data whilst making it easier for users to print from anywhere and release from anywhere.  The firm gains control and visibility of usage, costs and behaviour, enabling tighter governance and better decision making, the users get easier print services.

The outcome is a simpler, more efficient and more controlled print environment for everyone with lower running costs.

A data-led example: 50 tonnes of CO₂e avoided for Grant Thornton

‍The experience of Grant Thornton shows how this works in practice. The firm needed to reduce both energy consumption and the carbon associated with its print infrastructure, without compromising on security or performance.

By moving to a circular-first managed print model, it reduced its device fleet by 50% and removed multiple servers from its data centres. The impact was measurable.

Annual energy consumption fell by 77%, dropping from 4,490 kWh to 1,037 kWh. At the same time, more than 48,000 kg of embodied carbon emissions were avoided by using remanufactured devices rather than new hardware.

The firm also gained greater control over its print environment, with improved visibility, standardisation and governance across locations.

These are not marginal gains. They are clear, reportable improvements that contribute directly to cost control, operational efficiency and carbon reduction targets.

Evidence firms can rely on
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For accountancy firms, evidence matters. Claims around performance and sustainability need to stand up to scrutiny, particularly in regulated environments.

This is where the BSI Kitemark for remanufacturing becomes important. Awarded under BS 8887, it provides independent assurance that remanufactured devices meet defined standards for quality, safety and durability.

In practical terms, it removes much of the perceived risk around adopting remanufactured technology. Firms can be confident that devices will perform reliably, while also delivering verified environmental benefits.

The same certification is backed by lifecycle analysis showing that the remanufacturing process delivers a 97.5% reduction in CO₂e compared to new production. This gives firms robust data they can use within their own reporting.

Security and control remain central

Any change to print infrastructure must meet the security expectations of the sector. Financial data passes through print environments every day, and controls must be robust.

Modern managed print solutions incorporate secure print release, user authentication and full audit trails. Documents are only released to authorised users, reducing the risk of data exposure and providing a clear record of activity.

In the case of Grant Thornton, security was a central requirement, and the solution was designed to align with ISO 27001 standards and ongoing governance expectations.

This ensures that improvements in cost and carbon do not come at the expense of compliance.

A straightforward opportunity
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Managed print is unlikely to be the most high-profile part of an accountancy firm’s operations. But it is one of the more straightforward areas where measurable improvements can be made.

By reducing fleet size, lowering energy consumption, improving visibility and adopting remanufactured devices, firms can achieve clear cost savings alongside meaningful carbon reductions.

As the Grant Thornton example shows, the results are tangible. Around 50 tonnes of CO₂e avoided, alongside a 77% reduction in energy use, is not a marginal gain. It is a material improvement.

With the added assurance of the BSI Kitemark, circular managed print is no longer an alternative approach. It is a controlled, secure and evidence-based way to run a more efficient operations.