Environmental conservation is an integral part of any business today. Consumers are increasingly giving preference to businesses that appear to be mindful of the environment and shunning those whose actions degrade it. For this reason, many industries appear to be realigning their processes to make them more sustainable. The printing industry is among those that are making radical changes. There are several ways of adopting sustainable digital printing.
Ink is an important component of any printing process. Traditional inks are derived from petroleum and have a high amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds react with atmospheric gasses and lead to formation of smog. Fortunately, environmental-friendly inks that are vegetable based and biodegradable have now been developed. These natural alternatives have the same range of colors as the petroleum based types.
Petroleum based inks are also known to have a significantly high amount of heavy metals. Examples include cadmium, nickel, chromium, mercury and selenium among others. These metals are known contaminants of soil and water when released through effluents. This is likely to occur if they are released in large quantities or there is prolonged use. Most vegetable based inks have very little of these metals if at all.
The choice of paper that is being used in the process should also be considered. Recycled paper should be the first choice for any firm that is conscious about the environment. Compared to virgin paper, using this type of paper is not only cheaper but also reduces the rate of deforestation. A more direct benefit to the environment is the fact that it requires less water to process which results in less effluent compared to virgin paper.
Recycling and reusing raw materials can be extended to involve other inputs other than paper. Water, a key component in the process of printing, is among the easiest to reuse. Studies have indicated that more than two thirds of the water being used in the first cycle can be reused in the second cycle. Ink and aluminum plates can also be reused in subsequent cycles.
The type of energy that is used in your firm needs to be scrutinized. Work progressively to reduce your reliance on hydropower and fossil-based fossils in favor of renewable sources of energy such as wind and power. As you do this, develop mechanisms to cut down on your consumption. Gradually replace inefficient printers with those that give you higher output for every unit of power used.
Sustainability is also being adopted in fabric printing processes. One of the areas that have experienced changes is the pre-treatment stage. During this stage, urea and other chemicals are usually used. Unfortunately, urea breaks down to release carbon dioxide in the environment, a major greenhouse gas. Today, there are newer methods of pre-treating fabrics using a special type of foam that does not contain urea.
Sustainable printing is associated with numerous benefits. The most important is that the environment will be conserved. The specific benefit to the business is that operational costs are significantly lowered which may help increase the profit margins. For the consumer, the benefit is that the reduced operational costs may be passed on to them in the form of more affordable products.
Ink is an important component of any printing process. Traditional inks are derived from petroleum and have a high amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds react with atmospheric gasses and lead to formation of smog. Fortunately, environmental-friendly inks that are vegetable based and biodegradable have now been developed. These natural alternatives have the same range of colors as the petroleum based types.
Petroleum based inks are also known to have a significantly high amount of heavy metals. Examples include cadmium, nickel, chromium, mercury and selenium among others. These metals are known contaminants of soil and water when released through effluents. This is likely to occur if they are released in large quantities or there is prolonged use. Most vegetable based inks have very little of these metals if at all.
The choice of paper that is being used in the process should also be considered. Recycled paper should be the first choice for any firm that is conscious about the environment. Compared to virgin paper, using this type of paper is not only cheaper but also reduces the rate of deforestation. A more direct benefit to the environment is the fact that it requires less water to process which results in less effluent compared to virgin paper.
Recycling and reusing raw materials can be extended to involve other inputs other than paper. Water, a key component in the process of printing, is among the easiest to reuse. Studies have indicated that more than two thirds of the water being used in the first cycle can be reused in the second cycle. Ink and aluminum plates can also be reused in subsequent cycles.
The type of energy that is used in your firm needs to be scrutinized. Work progressively to reduce your reliance on hydropower and fossil-based fossils in favor of renewable sources of energy such as wind and power. As you do this, develop mechanisms to cut down on your consumption. Gradually replace inefficient printers with those that give you higher output for every unit of power used.
Sustainability is also being adopted in fabric printing processes. One of the areas that have experienced changes is the pre-treatment stage. During this stage, urea and other chemicals are usually used. Unfortunately, urea breaks down to release carbon dioxide in the environment, a major greenhouse gas. Today, there are newer methods of pre-treating fabrics using a special type of foam that does not contain urea.
Sustainable printing is associated with numerous benefits. The most important is that the environment will be conserved. The specific benefit to the business is that operational costs are significantly lowered which may help increase the profit margins. For the consumer, the benefit is that the reduced operational costs may be passed on to them in the form of more affordable products.
About the Author:
When you are searching for the facts about sustainable digital printing, come to our web pages online here today. Additional details are available at http://www.rollingpress.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment