The Advantages Of Using Soy-Based Printer Toner
Before discussing the many benefits of printer toner made with soybean oil, let’s first briefly discuss how this eco-friendly alternative came about. During the 1970s, the NAA (Newspaper Association of America) set out to find different inks to replace conventional petroleum-based inks. At the time, it was not for environmental reasons but from a cost-effectiveness perspective.
Squabbles with OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) about the ever-rising cost of petroleum prompted the initiative. NAA researchers tested more than 2,000 oil formulations from vegetables and finally came up with the solution, soybean oil. The first newspaper to use the ink in a test run was The Gazette in Iowa. The results were so favorable that, by 2004, over 95 percent of daily newspapers in the US, with a print order of 1500 or more, were using soybean ink. It didn’t take long for commercial printers to follow suit.
Today, soy is the leading naturally produced ink in the nation. Recently, it has been introduced to consumers in the form of printer cartridges. American citizens who change to these products will be making two positive contributions to the nation. In the first instance, it will help the country’s economy by eliminating the need to depend on foreign resources. Second, and just as important, there will be a major positive impact on the environment.
To put it candidly, there is no reason for any business or home to continue using conventional petroleum-based toners for their printers. Petroleum inks contain hazardous petrochemicals which, when emitted into the environment, contaminate ground water and soil. They also release VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Apart from contributing to the formation of smog, these compounds can be harmful to employees who work in printing companies.
Petroleum inks create a massive amount of carcinogens, pollutants, and hazardous wastes. In contrast, soy inks not only provide a more economical solution to the printing industry but they eliminate concerns about human and environmental health and safety, without sacrificing quality. A soy ink emits less than a 5th of the VOCs released by petroleum inks. Soy-based inks contain almost 100 percent non-toxic oil which is exactly what is added to thousands of beverages and foods.
The three main benefits of soybean-based inks are biodegradability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. To produce soybean ink for a printer toner only takes 0.5 percent of the energy needed for a petroleum ink. This means that they also reduce the amount of waste disposed in landfills.
Soybean oil requires less ink to provide printing clarity in a printer toner. The reason is that the pigments are able to reach their full potential and give vivid, rich colors. Also, because less ink is needed, the printer toner will have a longer lifespan. From a cost-effectiveness standpoint in the business world, this translates to higher profits.
Another environmental benefit about a printer toner containing soybean ink is that it is simpler to recycle. It’s much easier to strip the cartridges when de-inking them for recycling. The cost of soybean oil will remain constant because of the abundance and availability of the product. Petroleum prices will increase because resources are dwindling.
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