The trend in many industries all over the world is to switch to green technologies that not only conserve the environment but also contribute significantly to the reduction in operational costs. The printing industry is one of those that are undergoing radical changes. Traditionally, the methods that have been used in this process have had a detrimental effect on the environment and there have been sustained efforts to develop sustainable digital printing.
An area in which major changes are being made is the type of inks that are used in the process. The inks that have been used traditionally are known to result in byproducts known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to the environment. This occurs when the chemical that are found in these inks react with nitrogen oxide (in the atmosphere) in the presence of sunlight. New types of ink do not have these compounds.
The use of recycled paper is a practice that is gaining acceptance by both firms and consumers. The direct benefit of this practice is the fact that it reduces the need for virgin paper and by extension the need to cut down more trees. Other benefits that you will realize in your firm are that it requires less water to process and results in less effluent as compared to virgin paper.
Paper has also been widely used in proofs. Increased adoption of modern methods of communication is a move that is set to reduce the need for paper for this purpose. Increase use of email, for instance, has completely eliminated the need for paper proofs in some firms. The emails have, in addition, made it easy for customers to follow up on their work as it goes through the various steps in the printing process.
Apart from paper, there are other raw materials that can also be recycled or reused. Water is perhaps the easiest to be put back into the process. One of the areas where recycled water can be put into good use is in the washing of printers. It has been shown that up to 65% of water that is used can be reused. The other materials that should be considered for reuse and recycling include waste paper, ink and aluminum plates.
Energy efficiency should be a priority in a printing firm. Fossil fuels take a big part of the blame for global warming and this is the reason as to why there is a general trend to move away from these sources of energy in favor of more renewable sources. Wind and solar energy are, in particular, getting a very positive reception. When replacing old equipment, acquire new ones that will give you higher input for each kilowatt of electricity that you use.
The changes that are being undertaken in digital paper printing are also being replicated in fabric printing firms. One significant change that is being made with regard to the handling of fabrics is at the pretreatment stage. The conventional method employs the use of urea based compounds. When these compounds are broken down, they release urea as a byproduct. Urea is in turn broken down to release carbon dioxide. Alternatives to these compounds have been developed.
Using green based solutions in printing is a practice that is going to be vital to the success of any business in the near future. The good news is that there are numerous benefits that are released by the writers, the printing firms and eventually the final consumers. The savings in operation costs are passed on to all the players in the industry.
An area in which major changes are being made is the type of inks that are used in the process. The inks that have been used traditionally are known to result in byproducts known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to the environment. This occurs when the chemical that are found in these inks react with nitrogen oxide (in the atmosphere) in the presence of sunlight. New types of ink do not have these compounds.
The use of recycled paper is a practice that is gaining acceptance by both firms and consumers. The direct benefit of this practice is the fact that it reduces the need for virgin paper and by extension the need to cut down more trees. Other benefits that you will realize in your firm are that it requires less water to process and results in less effluent as compared to virgin paper.
Paper has also been widely used in proofs. Increased adoption of modern methods of communication is a move that is set to reduce the need for paper for this purpose. Increase use of email, for instance, has completely eliminated the need for paper proofs in some firms. The emails have, in addition, made it easy for customers to follow up on their work as it goes through the various steps in the printing process.
Apart from paper, there are other raw materials that can also be recycled or reused. Water is perhaps the easiest to be put back into the process. One of the areas where recycled water can be put into good use is in the washing of printers. It has been shown that up to 65% of water that is used can be reused. The other materials that should be considered for reuse and recycling include waste paper, ink and aluminum plates.
Energy efficiency should be a priority in a printing firm. Fossil fuels take a big part of the blame for global warming and this is the reason as to why there is a general trend to move away from these sources of energy in favor of more renewable sources. Wind and solar energy are, in particular, getting a very positive reception. When replacing old equipment, acquire new ones that will give you higher input for each kilowatt of electricity that you use.
The changes that are being undertaken in digital paper printing are also being replicated in fabric printing firms. One significant change that is being made with regard to the handling of fabrics is at the pretreatment stage. The conventional method employs the use of urea based compounds. When these compounds are broken down, they release urea as a byproduct. Urea is in turn broken down to release carbon dioxide. Alternatives to these compounds have been developed.
Using green based solutions in printing is a practice that is going to be vital to the success of any business in the near future. The good news is that there are numerous benefits that are released by the writers, the printing firms and eventually the final consumers. The savings in operation costs are passed on to all the players in the industry.
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