Environmental Printing Strategies
Environmental concerns are an increasingly important part of printing today and many people are questioning whether certain projects should even be printed.
While GreenBizCheck advocates keeping printing to a minimum, there are times when it is a business necessity.
While the GreenBizCheck assessment provides you with actions to minimise your environmental impact using your own printer, sometimes outsourcing is the best option.
Most companies when using printed communication, will also account for cost, quality, design, end use, disposal and hopefully the potential for recycling.
What then, should you be looking for when outsourcing your printing for the best sustainable option? The University of Melbourne makes the following suggestions:
- check that the printer has an environmental management system in place
- check the VOC emission ratings from the printing process - inks, coatings, cleaning solutions, dampening solutions, glues - select minimal or no VOC emissions where possible
- check that the printer can do digital to plate printing - eliminating film
- choose vegetable inks with uncoated paper where possible
- avoid metallic and fluorescent inks as these contain heavy metals
- choose aqueous varnish over UV coatings and plastic laminates
- choose water based glues
- check how the printer recycles and separates solid waste - paper off-cuts, cardboard, printing plates, ink containers, cleaning
While currently in Australia there is no environmental compliance standard for printers, some forward thinking printing companies are taking the steps to reduce the impacts of the printing process and life cycle.
One such company is GreenBizCheck certified client, The Environmental Printing Company, located in Perth, Western Australia. Owner and Director, Craig Campbell, says that, " We consult with our suppliers on a regular basis in order to establish which are the finest recycled papers, inks and bleaching techniques. Together with our clients we work out the best way of printing their job, so it not only looks great, but is also much better for the environment."
For the last 15 years the Environmental Printing Company has been using vegetable-based inks, recycled paper, sugar cane paper and various other environmentally preferred products. They have been able to produce high quality printing while reducing hydrocarbons (solvents) and other non-friendly chemicals from the printing process.
If you would like to know more information about choosing the most environmentally sustainable printer for your business, please contact us at: info@greenbizcheck.com
By Holly McCarthy, GreenBizCheck
