Features Of Sustainable Digital Printing

By Richard Patterson


There have been sustained efforts by governments as well as environmental activists advocating for the increased adoption of technology that is environmental friendly by various industries. The printing industry is one of those that have come under intense pressure to change the methods that have employed for decades. There are a number of measures that one can out in place so as to implement sustainable digital printing.

The biggest contributor to environmental pollution has been the type of inks that are used. Conventional ink increases the amount of volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) in the environment. This comes about when they react nitrogen oxide found in the atmosphere. The result is formation of a layer of ozone. While ozone is ordinarily known to have a protective function, this type is undesired since it is formed in the low atmospheric layer and contributes to smog formation.

The type of paper that is used also determines whether the process is eco friendly or not. Virgin paper is obtained directly from trees and is therefore a direct contributor of increased deforestation rates. Recycled, paper on the other hand, is derived from waste paper. Increased use of recycled paper helps in the conservation of one of our most valued natural resources that is forests. During processing, recycled paper produces less waste.

One area that is causing a lot of wastage is proof reading of manuscripts. In the modern era, it does not make any sense why anyone would invest so much in paper that may eventually end up as waste. Firms that have embraced modern communication techniques are realizing huge savings. The email, for instance, has made it possible to make changes on manuscripts easily without necessarily using paper.

The other raw materials can be similarly recycled or reused at various stages. Water is one of the inputs that are easiest to reuse. It has been established that with the right measures in place, one can recycle at least 65% of the water that is used. This is one way in which operation costs can be markedly reduced. The other raw materials that have been successfully recycled or reused include ink, aluminum plates and waste paper.

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.

Digital printing is also widely used in fabrics these days. The changes that are taking place in paper printing are also being applied to fabrics with tremendous success. One of the unique stages involved in the case of fabrics is pretreatment. This stage involves the use of chemicals whose major byproduct is urea. Urea is in turn broken down to release carbon dioxide. This one of the processes that has been eliminated and alternatives developed.

Adopting green energy solutions has widespread benefits both to the printing firm and the consumer. The cheaper costs of operation are usually passed on to the consumer who enjoys fair priced items. Most importantly, they both participate in environmental conservation.




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