There have been sustained efforts geared towards adopting more environmental friendly industrial solutions all over the world. The printing industry is one of those affected. Printing firms are now moving towards digital printing that is eco friendly and abandoning decade old practices which have been shown to have a negative impact on the environment. We will explore some of the ways in which you can adopt to this new order of things in this industry.
One of the major changes being implemented is replacing the mineral based inks with those which are vegetable oil based. The mineral based inks emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The VOCs react with nitrogen oxide found in the environment to produce ozone gas. This type of ozone is different from the protective ozone as it is formed much lower in the atmosphere. It attracts materials such as dust particles forming smog.
The use of recycled paper is a step which can be undertaken by virtually any press. Recycled paper uses less water to manufacture, results in fewer effluents and most importantly, reduces the rate of deforestation. Chlorine is commonly used in bleaching this kind of paper but has been shown to have detrimental effects to the environment. Many manufacturing plants have now developed processes which do not require chlorine.
There are many other raw materials which can be recycled or reused. Water, one of the major inputs in the process, is the easiest to reuse. In an optimally functioning system, close to 65% of water can be reused at different stages. The other materials include, ink aluminium plates and waste paper. The main objective should be to reduce the waste as much as possible.
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.
There is a need to reduce the use of paper as relates to the handling of proofs. The increased use of emails is making this a reality in most printing presses. Through emails, customers can easily make changes and track their work as it goes through all the stages. Such changes have greatly helped in environmental conservation as well as increase efficiency of the process.
With regard to digital printing involving fabrics, one of the areas in which improvements can be made is in the pretreatment process. Traditionally, this stage has involved the use of chemicals which contain high levels of urea. When the fabrics are steamed, carbon dioxide, a well-known greenhouse gas is released into the environment. An alternative to this method is to use a special foam which achieves which is less harmful to the environment.
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.
One of the major changes being implemented is replacing the mineral based inks with those which are vegetable oil based. The mineral based inks emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The VOCs react with nitrogen oxide found in the environment to produce ozone gas. This type of ozone is different from the protective ozone as it is formed much lower in the atmosphere. It attracts materials such as dust particles forming smog.
The use of recycled paper is a step which can be undertaken by virtually any press. Recycled paper uses less water to manufacture, results in fewer effluents and most importantly, reduces the rate of deforestation. Chlorine is commonly used in bleaching this kind of paper but has been shown to have detrimental effects to the environment. Many manufacturing plants have now developed processes which do not require chlorine.
There are many other raw materials which can be recycled or reused. Water, one of the major inputs in the process, is the easiest to reuse. In an optimally functioning system, close to 65% of water can be reused at different stages. The other materials include, ink aluminium plates and waste paper. The main objective should be to reduce the waste as much as possible.
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.
There is a need to reduce the use of paper as relates to the handling of proofs. The increased use of emails is making this a reality in most printing presses. Through emails, customers can easily make changes and track their work as it goes through all the stages. Such changes have greatly helped in environmental conservation as well as increase efficiency of the process.
With regard to digital printing involving fabrics, one of the areas in which improvements can be made is in the pretreatment process. Traditionally, this stage has involved the use of chemicals which contain high levels of urea. When the fabrics are steamed, carbon dioxide, a well-known greenhouse gas is released into the environment. An alternative to this method is to use a special foam which achieves which is less harmful to the environment.
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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