New figures from the International Data Corporation shows a rise in volume of printed pages.
The volume of pages printed from digital hardcopy devices across the world reached 3.1 trillion in 2010, new figures show.
According to research from the International Data Corporation, this figure represented an increase, with developing regions leading the way with a page growth figure of 7.3 per cent when compared to page volume figures in 2009.
While page volumes in the western part of Europe declined by one per cent year-on-year, volumes in central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa rose by more than 14 per cent.
The findings revealed that colour laser devices recorded increases in both western Europe, central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa in terms of overall installed base growth and page growth.
Page volumes generated by colour laser devices increased by nearly 16 per cent year on year in central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Meanwhile, mono laser devices represented nearly 84 per cent of laser installed base and generated almost 773 billion pages in central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In Western Europe, installed base as well as page volumes generated by mono laser devices declined, as users migrated towards colour devices.
Ilona Stankeova, research director for imaging and hardcopy devices research and document solutions of the International Data Corporation (central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa region), highlighted the sheer volume of pages printed across the globe.
"If we lay down the pages printed daily in Europe, the Middle East and Africa one after another, they would reach the moon and back, or cover an area of 18 soccer pitches every minute," she commented.
Document scanning is witnessing popularity in commercial organisations due to the fact that it allows companies to reduce their reliance on paper. This allows companies to increase their environmental credentials, lower their overall carbon footprint and reduce their overhead costs.