Why You Should Use Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Michelle Hall


Consumer patterns are shaped by many things that range from the quality of a product to the price to the values of the manufacturer and so on. Recent times have seen increased demand for products manufactured in a manner which conserves the environment and a drop for those which do not. The digital printing industry is among those greatly affected. Digital printing that is eco friendly can be achieved in a number of ways.

Ink is one of the most important raw materials used in the printing process. Unfortunately, the types of ink which have been used in the past are derived from fossil fuels and thus are a major environmental pollutant. The inks contain volatile organic compounds which react with gases in the atmosphere to form a layer of ozone. Unlike the normal ozone layer, the layer formed in this instance contributes to formation of smog.

Printing paper is another important input in the process. Continued use of paper has put trees and by extension, important ecosystems, at risk. The two options are virgin and recycled paper. Whereas the former is obtained directly from trees, recycled paper makes use of paper used previously. There is no doubt that an environmental conscious business will opt for the recycled paper option. Apart from conservation, recycled paper is also cheaper to process.

The other raw materials can similarly be recycled. Ink, water and aluminum plates are among the most commonly reused materials. Water, in particular is quite easy to re-use. If the firm is operating efficiently, it is estimated that up to 60% of the water utilized in the first cycle can easily be reused in subsequent cycles. This goes a long way into not only conserving the environment but also cutting down on the associated costs.

Energy conservation is another area which one may need to address. This should start with the selection of printers used. Choose equipment which will give you the greatest output possible for every unit of electric energy used. The source of energy is another important consideration. One should aim for renewable sources as opposed to fossil fuels that are well known environmental pollutants.

Fabric printing just like paper based printing is also undergoing some radical changes in a bid to ensure that they are sustainable. Among the changes taking place is a change in the pre-treatment of fabrics before they are printed on. The traditional approach involves the use of urea based chemicals which yield carbon dioxide during the steaming process. Newer methods use a special kind of form which has no urea.

Digital engraving is another useful development which is helping achieve sustainability as relates to fabric printing. It is an option that is being adopted in place of traditional techniques that use wax or ink. The older alternatives not only require a lot of water during processing but also take quite long. Digital engraving uses laser to create prints on fabrics.

It is the responsibility of every business to ensure that it conducts its operations in a sustainable manner. This should not only relate to the production of goods and services but to the entire supply chain as well. Sustainable options are beneficial to the environment, the business as well as to the consumer in the form of fairly priced products.




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