Celebrated artist India Flint is widely acclaimed for popularizing the term ‘eco-printing’ in the early 2000s after publishing her eye-opening publication ‘Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles.’ This book brings into focus the transformative benefits of adopting ecologically sustainable, plant-derived dyes in printing.
However, the eco-printing predates Flint’s startling book.
Some forward-thinking printing brands, like MinesPress, had already embraced sustainability in their operations years earlier, with a view to championing environmental conservation. Today, several brands leverage green printing to tap into the growing eco-conscious market segments.
Now, sustainable printing is a multi-pronged practice that encompasses both eco-friendly production and distribution.
This article will highlight brands’ diverse strategies to foster sustainability in the printing sector.
1. Switching to Renewable Energy
Clean energy is the talking point on many environmental conservationist forums.
The concept garnered raging popularity after many countries adopted the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2012. And while some printing brands choose to adopt a wait-and-see approach, many have already integrated green energy into their production processes.
A noteworthy mention is the Mines Press, which recently inked a historic deal with Centrica Business Solutions to install 1.3 megawatts of solar panels atop its 108,000-square-foot facility. The New York-based printing brand posits that this move will minimize its carbon footprint while aligning with its broader sustainability goals.
But shifting to solar energy isn’t just a populist eco-friendly move. According to research, solar panels have been shown to lower greenhouse gas emissions by a record 50%. That’s because solar energy is generated without needing to combust fossil fuels.
2. Prioritizing Print-on-Demand Fulfillment Models
Paper constitutes the largest component of waste from offices worldwide, despite many workplaces having purportedly embraced paperless technologies like cloud storage. More interesting is that it takes up to twenty-four mature trees to create a single ton of virgin office paper, underscoring the imperative of print-on-demand (POD) fulfillment models.
In POD, printing brands only produce paper when it’s required based on consumer demands. This arrangement improves printing companies’ production efficiency by averting overstocks and stock-outs. It also contributes to a more eco-friendly system by guarding against overproduction, which could only see surplus products tossed into the trash.
Current estimates suggest that the print-on-demand market may hit USD 43.4 billion in 2030, signaling a tremendous adoption of POD practices by printing brands.
Besides fostering mindful utilization of natural resources, print-on-demand allows brands to utilize the latest paper materials and technologies. This can reduce obsolescence, ensuring that only fewer materials require recycling.
3. Recycling Paper
Recycled paper is not only more affordable to produce than virgin paper. It also poses a minimal threat to Planet Earth.
Studies have continually shown that manufacturing recycled paper produces 20% – 50% less greenhouse gas emissions than non-recycled paper. One reason for that is that recycling reduces the amount of natural virgin fiber required for paper production, which consequently decelerates deforestation rates. Besides, recycled paper is made from waste paper.
Some conservative estimates suggest that 1.2 tons of waste paper can produce up to one ton of recycled paper. Theoretically, recycling eases the choke on our landfills by over 80%.
Also, note that paper recycling utilizes less energy than manufacturing virgin paper. In other words, fewer fossil fuels are combusted, which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.
Moreover, paper recycling factories can sort waste paper into distinct grades, allowing them to produce different papers of different quality for diverse customers.
4. Upgrading To Sustainable Ink Options
Inks and ink cartridges contain numerous compounds that could harm the environment if negligently disposed of. The compounds exist primarily as active chemicals and metals, both of which can leach into the soil and pollute groundwater.
In light of those potential environmental impacts, many printing brands have since upgraded to more eco-friendly options like hydro-soy ink.
Hydro-soy, as the name implies, is ink made from water and soy oil.
Soy-based inks are more sustainable than acrylic resins, emitting lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If properly discarded, soy-derived inks can readily decompose into compounds that nutritionally benefit local flora.
Soy is also a fast-growing and easy-to-cultivate legume. Therefore, upgrading to soy-based inks allows printing brands to address long-term sustainability challenges.
5. Embracing Sustainable Packaging and Shipping
Revamping production processes isn’t the only way printing companies are embracing sustainability. Some brands have also been keen to discard non-biodegradable packaging materials with more compostable options.
Besides fostering environmental conservation, sustainable packaging enhances user safety by preventing contamination caused by potentially hazardous chemicals.
Regarding shipping, a significant trend has been the gravitation towards consolidated shipping methods. Consolidated shipping combines several orders from different clients into a single delivery. This method allows brands to reduce the number of trips and, consequently, the amount of gas combusted in shipping goods to their clients. It’s also an ingenious way to minimize distribution costs, particularly for printing companies with multiple clients along a similar general supply route.
Brands can maximize consolidated shipping further by ensuring each container is fully packed.
Final Word
Switching to sustainable printing confers immense perks besides contributing towards the greater goal of environmental preservation.
By embracing green printing, you can minimize production waste and cut back on unnecessary overheads. The net results are enhanced productivity and optimized revenues.
Upgrading from conventional printing to sustainable printing techniques lets you capitalize on eco-conscious market segments, thereby maintaining a critical edge in this competitive industry.