Eco-Friendly Practices in Commercial Printing: Going Green

The Impact of Printing on the Environment 

Commercial printing is a complex, exciting category of the print industry. At the same time it also tends to be both an energy and materials intensive process that produces quite a bit of waste – particularly paper waste. However, print materials continue to be a powerful, versatile tool integral to many commercial operations. They aren’t going away any time soon.

Fortunately, some commercial printers are stepping up to find ways to improve the sustainability of their operations. These improvements not only help the environment, they’re also helping print shop clients meet their sustainability goals and improve their brand reputation.

Green Printing Processes

Green printing processes specifically reduce the amount of waste in the printing process. Of course, printers have always done what they can to keep ink and paper waste to a minimum, since spending unnecessarily on excess materials is never good business. However, thanks to improvements to computer-assisted printing presses, these materials can now be used more efficiently than ever.

But perhaps even more important than material efficiency is energy efficiency. Fortunately, modern print technology is also helping in that regard. For example, at Wallace Carlson, we regularly invest in equipment upgrades, including state-of-the-art printing presses like the Komori G40P. This machine alone reduces power consumption by up to 18% compared to less advanced presses.

Sustainable Printing Materials 

Paper selection also plays a critical role in printers improving their environmental footprint. Thankfully, innovations in paper recycling, such as more efficient de-inking techniques, have improved both the quality and variety of post-consumer recycled paper products that are available for commercial printing.

But material sustainability doesn’t just stop with paper. There have been innovations in inks as well. For example, UV inks have been an increasingly popular offering over the past 20 years thanks to their sharp, vibrant print quality. However, they’re also favored for being environmentally friendly. This is because they release fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and also require less energy to dry than traditional thermally-dried inks.

Benefits of Going Green in Printing 

By choosing more sustainable materials and commercial printing techniques, commercial operations can continue to reap the benefits of top-quality professional printing, while meeting or exceeding regulatory and corporate sustainability standards. The specific advantages of opting for green printing include:

Recycled paper uses less energy and water – By some estimates, each pound of recycled paper saves about 3.5 gallons of water, and requires approximately 31% less energy. This means using recycled paper can help contribute to your corporate sustainability goals or sustainability action plans.

Sustainability = trust = value – Increasingly, sustainability is critical to brands being perceived as trustworthy, and highly trusted companies outperform their competitors by up to 400%. By using (and promoting) more sustainable printing practices, commercial enterprises can increase their overall value.

Sustainable printers are more cost effective – Using more sustainable, energy-efficient technology while reducing material waste isn’t just an eco-friendly move for a commercial printer, it’s a cost-effective one. These practices lead to long term operational savings. That means professional printers who are committed to sustainable practices make more cost-effective print partners.