Sunday 25 August 2013

How To Find Sustainable Digital Printing

By Helga Stokes


Increasingly companies are becoming more aware of their environmental responsibilities. This is partially due to popular demand and the public desire to see businesses act responsibly and partially due to certain rules about using resources in the right way. A big part of this is sustainable digital printing.

You have probably heard of the term carbon footprint. This refers to the resources that an individual, company or country uses and the amount of damage this does to the environment. For example walking to work and picking an apple from a tree would leave a very small carbon footprint while flying in tonnes of apples from the other side of the world would leave a very large carbon footprint.

There are numerous ways that a business can be more sustainable. This is what is often referred to as the carbon footprint. This can be affected by a number of factors and any company that is aware of these factors can find ways to make their business and the process more energy efficient.

When it comes to the print process you also need to consider the materials used. Ink can be recycled and cartridges can be refilled. Paper can and is often regularly recycled. Companies keen to show their credentials ought to be willing to specify how much their paper is recycled.

Machinery is also a key part to the print process and therefore another important area to assess in terms of its environmental impact. A more efficient machine can produce more using less energy. Furthermore for a company this can mean they save more on money in the long term than they would using an older machine that is less energy efficient than a newer model.

Away from the process it is also important to look at the company themselves. They ought to have a policy regarding overall energy usage for themselves and their employees. For example they may insist on people switching off lights when not in the room or using waterless toilets. All of these things can make a business more energy efficient as less electricity and water is used. It may not sound like much but this can add up over the course of a year.

This is why sustainable does not necessarily have to mean more expensive. A company ought to be willing to explain what they can do in terms of making their business more environmentally sustainable. If they are hesitant or you are unsure you may want to consider looking elsewhere especially if they have a clear policy on lowering their carbon footprint and making their business as environmentally friendly as possible.

If you are looking for sustainable digital printing companies then it is worth contacting them directly. You can find a number of them online by using you regular search engine as well as finding review sites and social media that can offer feedback on local companies. It is better to use local companies in this instance as it reduces the amount of distance any items get delivered to you and therefore results in less fuel consumption and a smaller carbon footprint. Remember that when contacting them you are also looking for the best service and value for money. With the right approach you will get the best deal for your business.




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