Sustainable Printing - the solutions
Low-polluting,
vegetable-oil based inks
Our printing service uses low-polluting, vegetable oil-based inks. Such inks provide the same high print quality as conventional, petroleum based inks, but with far less concentration of volatile organic compounds and toxic heavy metals. Cleaner inks ensure a cleaner recycling and de-inking process, and less impact on our environment.
Recycled and biodegradable paper
We use National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM) approved recycled grade paper, that is fully recyclable and biodegradable. At least 75% of this paper is made from 100% de-inked post-consumer waste; the remainder is made from mill broke - ie. waste material recovered from inside the paper mill - which helps to improve the whiteness and print characteristics. All recycled papers used in this process are a combination of Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) and Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF), giving zero or low chlorine emissions.
Efficient use of energy and resources
Energy
is needed to manufacture both virgin paper and recycled paper, but less
total energy is needed to produce recycled paper. Industry quotes for
savings from producing recycled paper range from about 28% to 70%. For
example - the paper mill from which we source the bulk of our stock has
a typical gross primary energy usage of 7.9 Giga Joules per 1000 kg of
paper/board, compared with conventional mills, which normally consume
over 12 Giga Joules per 1000 kg. Furthermore, all water used by the mill
is suitably treated and, in most cases, returned to source in a better
condition than when removed, in accordance with strict local laws.
Environmentally conscious design
By considering the environmental factors in the finished form of printed materials, our design team is able to produce high quality publications that have a low environmental impact. We achieve this by:
- Recommending and, where appropriate, actively sourcing sustainable materials for all of our clients' print requirements. By contrast, we avoid, where possible, the use of unnecessary coatings, plastic laminates, foils, adhesives, labels, non-vegetable inks and non-recycled paper - in short, anything that would reduce the ability of the product to be recycled.
- Working to standard paper sizes (eg. A3, A4, A5), unless otherwise required. Irregular sizes produce unnecessary waste when trimmed.
- Using digital printing on short runs as a low impact and cost-effective alternative to conventional, lithographic printing.
- Encouraging our suppliers to switch to eco-friendly and recycled stock. For recycling to be sustainable, there needs to be an increasing demand for recycled products.
Competitive costs and turnaround
In order for sustainable printing to be just that – i.e. sustainable - it has to present a viable alternative to the conventional printing industry. In this regard, our service proves highly competitive, in terms of both turnaround time and cost of production. Through forging close links with other businesses and suppliers, we are able to:
- Keep our costs down without compromising on quality and sustainability
- Source a wide range of materials from specialist stockists
- Deliver finished products to anywhere in the UK
For more information about sustainable printing, including cost quotations, please contact us.