Thursday 25 June 2015

Choose Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Grace Soto


The print industry has been revolutionized over the past century as new ways have been developed to manufacture printed materials. Digital printing that is eco friendly has become an effective way of printing short runs of the types of materials so necessary for business such as business cards and letterheads. It offers a cost effective way of producing these small runs with the added benefit of significantly reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds.

The offset press produces high quality prints and this is still the process of choice for materials needing long runs. However, it involves using chemicals to develop film, make plates as well as the use of wet inks, resulting in a great deal of toxic waste. Paper too, is often wasted in large quantities due to the nature of this process.

Using a digital printer eliminates many mechanical steps needed for using the offset press. Making films and making plates is no longer necessary. A non-toxic toner is used and without having to use chemicals to develop film, make plates and clean the press, a huge quantity of toxic waste can be eliminated. Short runs of business cards, letterheads and other stationery can easily be performed on order without wastage.

Offset printing has the disadvantage of being too costly for smaller quantities. Great advances in imaging technology has improved the quality of digital prints significantly, meaning that it is no longer seen as an inferior option. Small quantities of quality full color prints can now be produced at a fraction of the setup time and cost.

The use of the internet has also had an impact on both costs and environmental footprint. With the ability to email clients proofs and keep them involved at each stage of the process, much time and cost can be saved. More efficiency in this way also means less wastage and less likelihood of errors creeping in.

One of the changes that has taken place is a move towards using of recycled paper. Recycling paper offers reduced water consumption and produces less effluents. At first, recycled papers did not offer the same quality but today this has improved to the extent that most clients are happy to use 100 percent recycled paper. The costs have also gone down, so there is no significant reason for not using it.

A green printer will direct clients away from petroleum-based inks that contain volatile organic compounds. Vegetable-based inks are biodegradable and come from renewable resources like soy, linseed and cottonseed. These inks contain a very low amount of volatile organic compounds.

More and more printers are developing environmentally conscious policies. They are not just offering lip service to going green by offering recycled paper but are implementing these policies in every aspect of their businesses. With the developments in technology, they are able to do so without affecting their bottom line too much. It is becoming an affordable option for clients to choose environmentally-friendly printers who are committed to reducing waste and choosing materials and processes that have as little impact as possible on the environment.




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