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.
Environmentally-Friendly Full Color Printing
Green means “go” in many ways.
On a traffic light, it means to proceed. In auto racing, the green flag signifies the start of the race, and the beginning of full racing after a cautionary period. It means everything is safe to proceed at full speed. In the environmental world, green is the color, symbol, and word for biodegradable and nature-friendly.
Arguably, green is the color of the past decade and one that’s causing a lot of debate between environmentalists and big businesses. And for now it seems the environmentalists are winning this war of attrition.
But that’s a good thing.
And the printing world is paying attention.
Just as other industries are taking a hard look at policies and practices that impact the environment, many in the paper industry have taken this challenge seriously. Some pulp and paper companies, and printers have committed to principles of corporate and social environmental responsibility, and organizations have formed to help define, recognize and credit those efforts.
It’s nothing new. For years printers have used recycled paper and paper products to conduct business. Lately, they’re now using biodegradable soy ink instead of others that could potentially harm the environment and people.
Printers who haven’t gone green yet though have many questions.
“Do I have to request a ‘green quote’ in order to receive eco-friendly printing?”
“Is green printing as good as conventional?”
“Is it expensive?”
“Where can I get the green equipment?”
“Is my competitor going green?”
“If so, how does the customer feel about it?”
“What’s in it for me besides helping the environment, I mean, is it profitable?”
We’ve discussed green printing on other posts here, here, and here (will link to three green posts), and we’ve come to one inescapable conclusion. Green printing is a popular decision and no more expensive than previously “non-green” methods.
Aside from environmentally-friendly paper products, many companies are creating ink from soy ink instead of petroleum, eliminating harmful fumes in the process and allowing for quicker drying. Printing houses produce what are known as volatile organic compounds, which are caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, varnishes and adhesives.
Past studies have shown that these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the risk of asthma attacks and other breathing ailments. As a result, measures are being adopted by many printers worldwide to comply with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly practices.
By doing this and recycling and reusing paper and other supplies whenever possible, printing companies will be practicing what green printing is.