The guide offers easy-to-implement suggestions for SMBs to use their printers in an environmentally friendly manner, which also saves money.

The publication follows the results of a pan-European survey that revealed more than half of UK small businesses had no environmental sustainability policies in place, and were tackling the issue on an ad-hoc basis.

In addition, less than half (42%) recognised one of more of the plethora of green standards such as the energy rating standard, Energy Star.

The proliferation of environmental badges also caused problems for HP as well, said the company's UK and Ireland environmental manager Bruno Zago.

He said that while energy ratings do help mark out efficient models to customers, when individual resellers such as Tesco create their own systems, it creates more confusion than clarity.

Similarly, FSC, PEFC, the EU flower and other paper standards are all competing for recognition.

He said HP was looking for more "global harmonisation around logos and standards".

Gaining each of the required standards for each territory can be a time-consuming business for the company. "By the time we get [them], unfortunately the product can be end of life," said Zago.