Benefits Of Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Michelle Hall


Consumers are driven by various factors. These may include price, quality of product, social values of the manufacturer and so on. More recently, environmental impact has turned out to be an important consideration by potential consumers. Many of them are choosing products which create the least negative impact to the environment. This has been seen in many industries including printing. Adopting digital printing that is eco friendly will certainly give you an edge over your competitors.

Ink is one of the most significant inputs in this process. Many of the ink types which have been used in the past are derived from fossil fuels hence are likely to produce volatile organic compounds when they are released into the environment. Volatile organic compounds are known to react with nitrogenous gases in the environment to form a low lying layer of ozone. Unlike the normal ozone which is protective, this type is mainly associated with smog formation.

Paper is an important raw material which has the potential to degrade the environment. The two options of paper available for use are virgin and recycled paper. Virgin paper is obtained from trees directly while recycled paper comprises paper which is being re-utilized. The former is more harmful to the environment as it leads to more deforestation. The latter option should be the obvious choice for environmental conscious firms as it helps conserve forests as an important natural resource.

There are a number of other materials which can be recycled and reused in similar fashion. These include, among others, the ink, water and aluminum printing plates. Water is by far the easiest of them to reuse. Research shows that as much as two thirds of water passing through the first cycle can be re-utilized in subsequent cycles. Not only does this help in environmental conservation but is also an important cost cutting measure.

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.

Similar measures that are meant to enhance sustainability are also being considered when it comes to the printing of fabrics. One of the biggest changes taking place is the elimination of urea based methods in the pre-treatment. Urea releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct and this pollutes the environment directly. There is a special foam that can be easily impregnated into a fabric and achieve the desired results.

Digital engraving is being developed as an alternative to conventional printing techniques. These include digital wax and ink. During digital engraving laser is used directly on the material to create the desired print. A major advantage of this option is the short turnaround time due to the fewer processes involved. Water conservation is another possible benefit since screen development using water is not needed here.

There is a need for every business to be responsible as regards environmental sustainability. The entire supply chain should adopt processes which reduce wastage on natural wastage and prevent environmental degradation. If this is applied at every level, the savings realized in running costs are tremendous. The same benefits can be passed to the end consumer in the form of affordable prices.




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