Environmentally Friendly printing is any printing that reduces harm to the environment through the use of environmentally friendly papers, inks and processes. It has many benefits both environmentally and in a business sense, and fewer hindrances than may be imagined.

Environmentally Friendly Paper

One of the most obvious methods of environmentally friendly printing is to use recycled paper. This is made up of two types of waste paper – pre-consumer waste and post-consumer waste. Pre-consumer waste is generally waste that has been generated by the industry and includes offcuts, trimmings and magazines or newspapers that were never bought. Post-consumer waste consists of paper that has been used and returned through a recycling programme. Office waste makes up the majority of post-consumer waste. Both forms of waste are washed and deinked before pulping. The pulp is then bleached to whiten it. It is pressed and dried before being compacted and smoothed.

Non-wood or tree-free fibre refers to fibre from sources other than trees including agricultural byproducts such as corn stalks and wheat husks, as well as plants such as hemp and kenaf. Their use is common in other parts of the world to make paper, although they have not yet been fully utilised in western printing. This is especially important in view of research findings that to make one ton of office paper requires up to twenty four trees to be used.

Eco-Friendly Inks

Traditional inks are petroleum based and are therefore derived from a non-renewable source. In addition, petroleum based inks release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are carbon containing gases that mix with vehicle emissions to make petrochemical smog, and in liquid form can detrimentally affect soil and water. On a smaller scale, they reduce indoor air quality, with negative effects on health.

Vegetable Oil based inks are made from sources such as soy beans, corn and linseed oils and present a more eco-friendly alternative. They have a sustainable source, release no VOCs, and can be deinked more easily during recycling, making future recycling easier and more efficient.

Sustainable Processes

Another way of reducing harmful environmental effects is in the processes used in printing. During the bleaching process, rather than chlorine being used, hydrogen peroxide or sodium hydroxide can be used. Sodium Hydroxide is so harmless it is used to wash fruit and vegetables. The ink that is removed can be burnt to produce energy which can in turn be used to power the paper mill or it can be sold to make materials such as compost or gravel to make roads.

The printing plates that are used can also contribute to environmentally friendly printing. Chemical free plates eliminate a significant source of harmful emissions. Plates can be recycled and returned to the manufacturer, and every effort can be made to use the space on individual plates more efficiently to ensure multiple uses.

Quality

Popular misconceptions exist about environmentally friendly printing. Concerns include that recycled paper is expensive, will have a grey tinge and will be rough, and that vegetable oil based inks will be dull and faint in colour. While some of these may have been true in the past, due to the increase in demand for recycled paper and inks, the quality of eco-friendly printing is now equal to that of traditional printing methods. The cost of recycled paper has also plummeted as its use has become more widespread, and also because of the significant reduction in the amount of energy and water needed to make recycled paper compared with conventional paper.

Environmentally friendly printing can improve green credentials often expected by customers, as well as diverting waste from landfills, reducing emissions, and continuing the demand for recycled materials.

For help with these issues and any other problems, visit our website www.appleyardpress.com