What are Green Printing Practices?
By now, it’s a given that everyone understands that the term ‘green’ refers not to a color but to a growing movement to promote sustainability in the global climate. Everyone seems to be going green; where once it seemed like a fad, recycling and renewing are more the norm than not. So it is really no surprise that little by little, people are finding more ways to promote conservation and sustainability, not just in their home lives, but in their business dealings as well. And inarguably, one of the biggest contributing factors to environmental sustainability is for companies to make the decision to start using green paper printing for everything from business cards to promotional materials. But what do green printing practices encompass, and how can the earth benefit from the switch?
What are eco-friendly printing practices?
More than just making brochures and postcards out of recycled paper cardstock, eco-friendly printing practices incorporate several types of renewable, recyclable and above all sustainable methods into the seemingly simple process of putting ink to paper in an attractive design. There are so many different things involved in printing paper, no matter how large or small the project. First, the production of paper. Rather than only using virgin paper, which is paper made directly from wood pulp, green printing companies make use of recycled fibers and post-consumer waste products to make their paper. After these materials are de-inked, washed, bleached in a non-chlorine solution, freed of water and dried into the paper we recognize, the paper is cut into sheets or rolls and becomes ready to be made into business cards, letterhead stationery, brochures or any other kind of printed paper a customer may need.
When it’s ready to be inked, green paper printing companies make use of alternative sources for their inks; namely soy and other vegetables. Traditional inks are petroleum based, but these inks create VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, that are known links to both long and short term health problems. This risk is greatly diminished by making use of soy and other vegetables as the base for environmentally sound inks. And these inks in turn are just as bright and bold as their unhealthy predecessors, in addition to being crafted from a renewable resource.
Green printing practices don’t just stop once the papers have left the building, though. Because carbon emissions, a known detriment to the atmosphere, are essentially a given as part of the shipping process, most green printing companies take great pains to achieve a carbon neutral shipping method. Basically, they will make purchases of Renewable Energy Credits to offset the damaging emissions caused by the vehicles used in the shipment of their products.
Green paper printing is a necessary process
The earth’s natural resources are a blessing we take advantage of every day. It’s become our responsibility to ensure that we make every possible step toward sustaining nature’s bounty, by reducing harmful emissions, greenhouse gases and solid material wastes, by recycling, by taking advantage of renewable resources, and by reusing whenever it is possible. Eco-friendly printing practices take into account all aspects of conservation and sustainability, and make it easier for businesses to do their part to help keep the earth green.
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