Connections
The Greener Side of Print Finishing
As a print shop owner, you’re hearing more and more requests for non-toxic adhesives, recycled paper or even suggestions on how a client can make a print job “greener.” You may be stocked with natural dyes and recycled paper, but what about offering green design solutions?
Here are some design tips that you can share with your clients to help make their project budget and earth-friendly:
Opt for Smaller-sized Collateral
Smaller projects will fit on a smaller press sheet and can help eliminate waste.
Minimize Printing Processes
While this isn’t necessarily sound business advice for the printer, helping your clients minimize their use of printing processes could keep them coming back for future “green” projects. You may not be able to sell them on metallic foil, but you could get them to pay an added premium for a vegetable-based metallic ink.
Design for Updates
Design your pieces so that they can be easily updated. For example, bind a small booklet with a removable band instead of adhesive or use a folder instead of stapling.
Use PDFs for Proofs
Try to use PDFs instead of printing out proofs wherever possible.
Opt for FSC- or SFI-Certified Paper
There is a common misconception that de-inking post-consumer paper takes more energy. But, there are actually a wide range of sustainable/green (i.e. FSC- and SFI-certified) paper stocks that are coated and uncoated and offer numerous options for a high-quality final product and at an affordable price.
Opt for Biodegradable Laminates for UV Printing
UV coatings are incredibly cost-effective, but they’re also mineral based and most laminate coatings aren’t recyclable. However, Dikeman Laminating Company has recently introduced a biodegradable and compostable film in both matte and gloss finishes. It’s more expensive, but could be a “greener” choice for clients who want an environmentally-friendly UV printing job.
Educate Your Clients on How to Dispose of the End Product
If you’re producing a product that has staples, coils, foil or glue, then educate your client on how they can recycle the product. For a truly “green” design, suggest that your client include a “How to Recycle This Document” section or information panel somewhere on the finished project.
Sustainable Paper Options for Print Shops
You want to start stocking green, sustainable paper, but where do you go? And how do you know what makes a paper stock “green” in the first place? According to the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), it all boils down to sustainably logged timber.
What does that really mean? To make it just a little bit more confusing, both organizations have their own definitions, regulations and certification processes. But each organization is recognized as an outstanding source of sustainable, “green” paper.
Using FSC- or SFI-certified paper is one of the most important steps in becoming a green printer, as more and more companies are calling for sustainable paper, even if they don’t have a green initiative in their own company.
FSC – Forest Stewardship Council
In order to become FSC certified, meaning you have the right to stamp your sustainable paper products with the FSC logo, a timber or logging company must submit to an independent audit of their forest management practices, and a printer must submit an application with their practices and procedures to become a certified printer.
In the logging audit, the FSC is looking to make sure the company or individual respects international worker’s rights, does not use hazardous chemicals, does not convert or abuse natural habitats, respects the human rights of Indigenous Peoples, follows local laws and identifies and protects any areas that need special attention (habitats, sacred sites, etc).
The FSC certification clearly goes beyond the environmental concepts of “green” and “sustainable” paper, and puts a strong focus on human and cultural rights too.
SFI – Sustainable Forestry Initiative
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative audits and certifies forests in the United States and Canada that are deemed to be responsibly managed.
In comparison to the FSC, the SFI certification tends to focus on greener or more environmental criteria. Their nine guiding principles of sustainable forestry include responsible practices, reforestation and adherence to productivity restraints, forest health management, long-term forest and soil management, protection of water resources, protection of special sites and biodiversity, legal compliance and a commitment to ongoing, continual improvement.
However, just because a stock is labeled as “sustainable paper” or “green paper,” and includes an SFI or FSC logo, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s 100% certified. Paper stocks can contain 10% certified or 20% certified materials, just as stocks can be 10% or 20% recycled. So, before you invest in “sustainable paper,” make sure you understand exactly what that “sustainable” label entails.
The Benefits of UV Printing
I believe that UV printing is the future of commercial printing. There are just too many advantages, including its fast curing speeds, high print qualities, durability and flexibility, for ultraviolet printing not to become the new standard.
Flexibility
With UV printing, you can print on almost any surface, absorbent or not. Here at Lloyd’s of Indiana, we once ran a door through our UV printing machine and it worked great.
That flexibility translates to hundreds of uses at the local print shop level – small retail items, book covers, clings, cards, large banners, the list is almost endless. And with this new found ability to print on traditionally non-porous surfaces like Styrene or hard boards, customers are starting to pay attention.
High Print Qualities
No more double passes through the press, no more re-runs. UV printing allows for high-gloss levels, vibrant colors, an array of coatings and printing that’s crisp and has a nice finished look. That’s because UV inks tend to sit on top of the printed surface, rather than being absorbed into it. The end result is sharper and crisper.
Durability
UV printing is also more resistant to scratches, wear and tear, and sun exposure than its traditional printing counterparts. Customers love that a large promotional piece isn’t going to become tired and sun-worn after a few weeks.
Fast Curing Speeds
With UV printing, the ink is dry the moment it comes off the press. No more waiting for the ink to dry, no more waiting to do proofs, no more ghosting of images on the page above it. Instead, press checks are quick and you can move on to binding and finishing faster. Not only is it faster for your clients, it saves you time too.
UV printing isn’t the little-known secret of the printing world anymore; customers are starting to ask for it by name. They want that speed, durability, high print quality and surface flexibility that ultraviolet printing can offer. Don’t get left behind.
Interesting Inks
Michael Dare over at the Absolutely Everything Else blog recently posted an article entitled “The 8 Most Unusual and Cutting Edge Inks.” What started as a “frivolous” look at inks quickly became a much deeper analysis into how ink technology advances are transforming the printing industry’s environmental impact.
Our four favorites were:
1. Edible Ink
If you’ve ever seen pastry or cake printing, then you’ve seen edible ink in action. It’s more of a confectioner’s tool, but it’s possible to get it for commercial and home printing. According to Dare, it’s available through Kopykake, a California company. (Our question is how do you fit the cake into a desktop printer?)
2. DNA Ink
I pride myself on staying at the forefront of the printing industry, but even this one blew me away. A Japanese company, Ko-Sin Printing, has created a type of ink that actually contains the author’s DNA. It’s essentially standard ink mixed with a DNA sample.
3. Disappearing Ink
Though disappearing ink has been sold out of the backs of comic books for decades, the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) is redefining the concept using photosensitive paper and UV light (no actual ink involved). The idea is that the paper can be used again and again.
4. Eco Ink
Unlike our traditional, petroleum-based inks, eco ink is both biodegradable and renewable. The product is made from ethyl lactate also known as corn.
The four other inks not mentioned here include nanoink, an ink used to print rolls of semi-conductors; silver nanoparticle ink, which is designed to carry signals between circuit elements.; gold ink, another ink used in circuitry and flexible electronics; and, bio ink, a method that essentially prints proteins onto stem cells. All four are interesting, but just a little out of the realm of a traditional print shop.
Green Book Printing: Good for the Reader, Good for the Publisher
Going green is not a state of mind. It’s a statement and reality check, and it’s here to stay. It’s not just local printers who are doing it. It’s gaining national and even worldwide acceptance. Printing companies, copiers, and publishing companies are relying on green printing more and more.
Lately, the book industry has been trying to lower its environmental impacts and adopt greener practices. According to an article in Sustainablog, published in March 2009, they are also being realistic and checking out who actually prints books the green way.
Deb Bruner serves as Pinnacle Press’ director of book publishing and eco-friendly initiatives. Prior to Pinnacle, Bruner worked as the director of book publishing papers for New Leaf Paper, the environmentally friendly paper merchant, where she managed mill relationships and developed sales opportunities.
Bruner said that in 2002, Pinnacle Press began printing on recycled sheet for book jackets and have continued ever since. And Pinnacle does this not only for the customers, but for themselves, improving its lot by increasing the need of recycled paper.
By incorporating these eco-friendly practices and offering green products, Bruner said it serves her company and customers well. Pinnacle takes pride in its efforts to be environmentally responsible at the corporate level. They also try to get involved with organizations such as the Book Industry Environmental Council, so they can help educate publishers and other customers on green products and practices so they can become more knowledgeable.
As a result, customers come to them because of their green practices and paper offerings. Bruner also said others are happy to learn about Pinnacle’s practices. Bruner admitted there are customers who are only interested in pricing, and not green ideas, but they still take the time to educate all their customers about their green offerings.
Bruner believes because Pinnacle has gone green, their efforts have helped the company and their customers. She said many in the publishing and book printing industry are now so invested that it’s only a matter of time before they all go green.