Paper - look for papers that include pre-consumer recycled content and are responsibly sourced from sustainable tree plantations and well-managed forests, with chlorine-free processing. Papers using post-consumer recycled fibers may or may not be the most eco-friendly option, depending on the chemicals and waste involved in the recycling process to bleach printed material into clean white sheets. Read more on green printing with recycled paper.
Inks, Coatings and Chemicals - Eco-friendly printing uses vegetable-based inks, primarily soy, instead of petroleum based inks which leach volatile organic compounds. Vegetable-based inks are both gentle on the environment and produce bright, high quality images that are more easily removed during paper recycling. Water-based aqueous coatings provide high-gloss finishes and are more eco-friendly than UV coatings. Eco-friendly printers also use organic neutralising solutions and filters to ensure the solvents and protectants used in printing don't contaminate the local groundwater and soil.
Reducing and Reusing Waste - By using top-grade paper, trained operators and modern equipment, the amount of paper needed for setup can be significantly reduced. The most eco-friendly printers have their scrap paper recycled into newsprint, which requires much less energy, water and chemical treatment than recycling into white paper. Plus, biodegradable or recyclable packing materials helps avoid more permanent waste in landfills.
Energy Consumption - A key part of eco-conscious printing is what goes into powering and outfitting the equipment and facilities. Facilities that use renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, well-insulated, energy-efficient buildings and energy-saving features such as fluorescent lighting, low-water usage in fixtures and landscaping and power-saving equipment can make a big difference in the amount of total resources it takes to produce your printed piece
No comments:
Post a Comment