The printing industry as a whole is one of the imperative industries because of its wide usage and for the number of people who are directly and indirectly dependent on them. From the time when paper was invented printing became popular and now a day's printing has moved on from paper to textiles and more. Today we are in a situation where printing is blended in everything that we see and do… right from the parceled food that we eat to the everyday commodities that we use, printing is seen in the covers. When we talk about printing industry and one of the main ingredients in this is the dye that they use. We all are well aware that the dyes that are used for the printing purpose are synthetic ones that are harmful when consumed and can affect or pollute the environment in a slow but a steady state. The printing industry is thus regarded as one of the important reason for environmental pollution. Not just because of the dye that they use but even because of the amount of paper that is been wasted every time when some error happens while printing.
In recent days, voices in favor of Eco friendly measures are rising up drastically and people are working hard towards making other to follow the GO-GREEN motto! Green Printing is one among the measures that is been taken by ecosystem lovers to save the earth from green house effect and global warming.
When it comes to the technique of Green Printing, waterless printing is said to be the most effective plans. A normal offset printing technique makes use of a lot of water as well as alcohol for the printing purpose and the polluted water turns futile. Same way the paper on which the harmful dyes are used turns as another ways of polluting the earth's soil when it is set for decomposition. Though the paper is reused, the amount of pollution that printing passes through the paper is never going to change and at the end will turn as a harmful pollutant.
Unlike the old methods where people used the plate systems and harmful chemicals along with fresh water, the eco friendly printing uses computers and hence the film processing need not devour fresh water anymore. You might wonder… How to identify printing companies that follow only Green printing techniques? The answer is very simple, there are companies out there that follow 100 percent eco-friendly ways of printing and processing papers. These companies can be identified with the help of the green certificates that area offer by eco friendly institutions. One of the most important steps that these companies take to be eco friendly is by using green inks. The harmful dyes are totally avoided and dyes that are produced by natural stuffs are been used for this modern type of printing.
For those who may not be aware, the printing industry ranks fourth in consuming energy and poses a great threat to our environment. It is because of this unpleasant truth that green printing is being strongly recommended. The main advantage of green printing is it uses recycled materialand hence the harmful effects on the atmosphere is minimal.
Business enterprises that are keen to protect the environment must patronize green printing practices. It is a fact that printed materials are used extensively by all sizes of business houses and by going green with printing, you can help the environment. Here are some ten green printing practices and strategies:
- One of the first things for going green with your printing needs is to orient your design in a way that avoids excess bleeding and large ink areas. If this is not possible, then you should at least reduce the size of the project to minimize the amount of waste. As a matter of fact, this will help you to print faster and at reduced cost.
- Try to recycle used ink, paper. There are also paper sources that are 100% recycled, though they may not be available for all project sizes and types.
- Use soy and vegetable-based inks. Please know soy and vegetable based inks are derived from a renewable resource, unlike petroleum based inks. Unlike petroleum inks, they do not contain undesirable toxins and carcinogens. Further, soy and vegetable based inks break down faster and are easier to remove during the recycling process.
- Make it a point to utilize bio-degradable coatings. For printed materials that require a coating on the finished product, such as book covers and brochures, look for bio-degradable coatings.
- Another way to eco-friendly printing is to minimize the printing volume or the page count. Reducing your page count will create more cost-effective printings and there will be less waste generated. Apart from reducing the reading content, there are several other ways that you can reduce your page count - use narrow margins, smaller font sizes, and print on both sides of the pages.
- If your printed materials need a binding, opt for recycled plastic coil. These usually come in dark neutral colors and it is an eco-friendly alternative to other binding options.
- Many of us are guilty of printing more copies than we strictly need. When trying to go for green printing, print only the exact number of copies that you need. If you can, print sale promotion materials onsite when you know exactly how many copies you will need. This will help to eliminate waste and reduce your printing expenses.
- Update your mailing lists regularly so that only the customers who merit the printouts are receiving them. Discuss with your dealers about what marketing materials they really need and only print those and nothing else. You can also switch over to CDs, which are especially appreciated at trade shows.
- The most assured way to go green with your printing is to go paperless as much as possible. Send proofs via email instead of hard copies. Company announcements and memos can be delivered electronically through a website or email.
- Place recycling bins near the trash cans and copy machines. Create heaps of used paper that can be reused. Inform your clients and other recipients that your materials can be recycled, and you can even provide containers, if possible, to encourage this process further.
If each one of us becomes more responsible towards environment protection and opt for green printing techniques, then the world will become a much cleaner, healthier place to live in.
Every page that you print has the combination of many toxic chemicals, ravages and emissions. It is possible to avoid this if we follow better management tactics. Organizations should not be concerned only about their business they have to look upon the social factors too. Printing concerns that are willing to take the responsibility and follow the environmental path have to go with the option of replacing their print papers, inks, papers and the procedures of printing. Following such path will be helpful to diminish the usage of toxic chemicals, to run the printing techniques in an eco-friendly manner and to utilize the raw products resourcefully.
Following are some guidelines on how to follow the path of Green Printing
One of the best options to go with the green printing is to select papers and inks which are eco-friendly.
- Go with the option of chlorine-free paper and see to that it is with post-consumer fiber. Before you hit the print button it is essential to check out thus your printer supports the eco-friendly paper.
- Choose the option of green ink. The meaning of green ink is to select the ink which is environmental friendly. Before your printer prints the documents ask him to use the inks which are environmental friendly or use the recycled inks (i.e.) inks which are low in polluting the environment and the content of VOC is less in them.
- Inks which can be utilized to print your documents in eco-friendly manner are vegetable based inks or soy based inks. They are the best substitutes for your petroleum based inks.
- The usage of paper should be in a wise manner. Try to use papers as few as possible. Never print the documents in non-standard size of papers. Standard size papers are available make use of them wisely. By this you can save lot of papers for your print.
- See to that the documents which you are going to print has the alternate option of viewing in non print style (i.e.) by means of e-mails or PDF files or word document.
- Replace your old printer with the waterless printing technique. As this reduces the water or the method of dampening in conventional printing.
- Try to use the renewable energy sources like that of wind power.
Ever since evolution of mankind started, man has replenished the resources of Mother Nature. He has used it to the fullest and pushed it towards the edge and now we are living in a state where Mother Nature might lose its resources any time soon. So much pollution depleting the good health of our Mother Nature has devastated us in several spheres and there will come a time where we will go extinct without any evidence. None will know that there was once a species so dominant on earth who entirely ruled it ruthlessly that he lead to the extinction of him. “Better late than never” These words have found a new meaning today. It is high time we start realizing our flaws and try to coexist with whatever is left over. These resources are pretty renewable over a period of centuries and if we cooperate, we can make the difference.
And green printing is just one of the steps. Many people today patronize the concept of green printing and as a result more printers capable of green printing are being manufactured today. Check for the following to find out whether your printer follows the concept. The main issue behind printing is the usage of paper. Paper is manufactured from the barks of trees and as result millions of trees have been cut down to manufacture these papers. As a result it has lead us global warming issues and more amount CFC gases from the atmosphere are depleted along with ozone thanks to the pollution caused by our non-renewable resources. Of course we need to curtail everything sequentially and changes cannot be brought about immediately, it will take a long period of time. But green printing is one of the steps where it uses recycled paper and thus gives us the opportunity to plant more trees across our world. You ought to purchase a printer that uses 100% recycled PCW (Post Consumer Waste). You can use totally chlorine free or processed chlorine free paper instead of using elemental chlorine free or standard chlorine bleached paper.
Chlorine bleached paper is one of the root causes of pollution since it releases toxic byproducts that contaminate water, air and soil. You ought to use printers that uses renewable resources such as vegetables and soy based inks instead of petroleum based inks as it is much safer for the environment. The petroleum based ink on the other hand leaches VOC’s into the soil when printed papers ends up in landfills. This can cause terminal diseases like cancer and other birth deformities. These toxic wastes also get released into the air as the inks dry.
Soy ink on the other hand uses soybean oil which is low in VOC’s, efficient and much cheaper. Most newspapers and magazines these days are using soy ink printers instead of the traditional petroleum based printers.
All these eco friendly printers are available for sale online as well. You can get more details about them and their usage. Log onto, www.4printing.net for further details.
The world is becoming increasingly environment conscious and like all other industrial sectors, the printing industry can also do a lot by adopting newer methods of green printing. . For those who are not aware, the printing industry ranks fourth in consuming energy and poses as a formidable threat for environmental preservation. The principal advantage that green printing is it uses recycled material and thus the adverse effect of the process on the environment is minimal.
One of the first things for green printing is to orient your design in a way that avoids excess bleeding and large ink areas. As a matter of fact, this will help you to print faster and at reduced cost.
It is common knowledge that paper production depletes forests, water, and energy supplies. In fact, research studies reveal that producing one ton of virgin uncoated paper requires three tons of wood, 19,075 gallons of water, and generates 2,278 pounds of solid waste. Moreover, many white papers are bleached via a chlorination process that releases dangerous chemicals and pollutants into the water and air.
Make it a point to use paper that is 100 percent post-consumer waste (PCW), processed chlorine free (PCF), uncoated, FSC certified and made by renewable energy sources like wind or solar power, You can use paper that is made from cotton, or other renewable plant sources instead of pulp from trees.
Printing companies are responsible for the harmful volatile organic compounds known to be VOCs as they use a lot of petrol based inks. Use vegetable-based inks or soy inks instead of the conventional petroleum-based inks. These alternatives are both low in VOCs and competitively priced. Soy and vegetable-based inks are derived from a renewable resource, unlike petroleum based inks. Again, unlike petroleum inks, they do not contain undesirable toxins and carcinogens. Besides, soy and vegetable based inks break down faster and are easier to get rid of during the recycling process.
Try to utilize bio-degradable coatings for printed materials that require a coating on the finished products such as book covers and brochures etc. Avoid varnishes and other coatings that may prevent you from recycling the piece later. However, if coating your printed piece will add significantly to its shelf life, then go ahead, as this will cut paper consumption over the long term.
Look for a printer that uses a waterless printing system which eliminates the water or dampening system used in conventional printing.
If your printed materials call for binding, opt for recycled plastic coil. These coils are available in dark neutral colors and it is an environment-friendly alternative to other types of binding options.
One positive method of green printing is to minimize the printing volume or the page count. Reducing your page count will create more cost-effective printings and there will be less waste generated. You can use narrow margins, smaller font sizes, and print on both sides of the pages.
There is a widespread tendency amongst many to print more copies than strictly necessary. To help green printing, order only the exact number of copies that you need. This will help to eliminate waste and also reduce your printing expenses.
The most assured way to go green with your printing is to go paperless as much as possible. Bulk of business communications can be delivered electronically through a website or email. Consider publishing your document online. Digital printing, which avoids the film and chemicals of traditional printing processes, is indeed a good alternative.