Sunday 14 February 2016

Ways Of Creating Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Angela Thomas


There is pressure from numerous quarters for business to use solutions friendlier to the environment. As a result, the printing industry is among those which are experiencing a major shift in the manner in which operations are conducted. There has been an increase in the use of raw materials and methods which fit into this new way of thinking. If you are a player in the industry, there are a number of things you can do to implement digital printing that is eco friendly.

One of the changes which are being implemented involve the types of ink used. The conventional ink is known to release volatile organic compounds, VOCs into the environment. When these compounds interact with nitrogen oxide in the presence of sunlight a layer of ozone is formed within lower atmospheric zones. This ozone layer (unlike the protective layer higher up in the atmosphere) attracts dust particles and forms smog.

Another change which is experienced increased uptake is increased use of recycled paper. Compared to virgin paper, recycled paper requires less water to produce. It is also associated with production of less effluent and more importantly, it causes less deforestation. For many years, chlorine has been used in the bleaching process but this is now changing. Modern manufacturing methods produce chlorine-free water.

There are a number of other raw materials which can be recycled or reused. One of the inputs which may be recycled easily is water. In a firm which is operating efficiently, up to 65% of water can be recycled. This is likely to translate into huge savings as relate to operational costs. Other materials can also be recycled to various extents. Such may include, waste paper, ink and aluminum plates.

Energy conservation should be a priority. Efforts should be made to cut down on the use of fossil fuels as much as possible and use renewable sources of energy instead. If you are to buy new equipment, ensure it is more efficient with faster running speed which ensures there is more output per kilowatt of electricity used. Regular servicing ensures that your printers remain efficient and use less energy, ink and water.

The amount of paper used for proofs should be reduced as much as possible or eliminated from the process entirely. The use of emails is one of the ways through which this can be made possible easily. Not only does this practice reduce paper requirements within a firm but also helps customers to keep track of their work as it goes through the various stage of printing.

Changes are also being adopted in fabric printing. The pretreatment process involves the use of compounds which contain urea. When the urea is broken down during the steaming process, carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) is produced. Newer alternatives which involve the use of a special foam instead of the urea compounds have been developed.

There are numerous opportunities which can be taken by businesses that are conscious about environmental conservation. Huge successes can be achieved by making small changes over time. Be ready to embrace technologies that will help increase efficiency in the printing process and reduce the wastage of inputs.




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