A guide to a sustainable future for the print technology sector

The print technology industry faces more pressure than ever to remain sustainable and overcome negative connotations of being particularly destructive to the environment, largely due to deforestation and the various oils which contribute to the creation of ink. 

However, the industry is evolving and slowly demonstrating that it can become more economically sustainable. Take a look through our guide below as we explore what is meant by the likes of ‘green paper’ or ‘eco-ink’. Find out which companies are implementing them into their practices, making a conscious effort to establish themselves as a more environmentally responsible business. 

Deforestation increases air pollution

Forests cover approximately 30% of the world’s land area, however, the rate at which they are being cut down is a serious cause for concern — 502,000 square miles getting the chop between 1990 and 2016. These trees are vital for absorbing carbon dioxide alongside a host of other dangerous greenhouse gases. Tree felling not only causes an increase in air pollution but it also one of the primary causes of flooding. 

One study has pointed to the fact that 10% of deforestation has been carried out to cater for the supply of wood products — which includes paper. 

Recycled paper

So, what’s being done in terms of reducing the amount of paper we use? In order to be classified as eco-friendly paper, the paper must have been created in a greener way than traditional paper would have been, therefore having a smaller carbon footprint. Recycled paper is beneficial because it doesn’t involve the use of fresh trees, it’s simply using the ones that have already been cut down. 

This process of reusing paper starts at home with your recycling bin. After the paper is collected it is taken to the recycling centre, where it is then shredded and pulped. Following this, the paper is rinsed thoroughly to remove any ink or glue-like substances. Reports have suggested that this process can be repeated a further six times before the usable life span of the paper reaches its climax.

FSC paper

Alternatively, as opposed to recycling paper, another option is available. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international not for profit organisation who certifies the sourcing of paper to be sustainable. The group assess forest management agencies using 10 rules, which include the impact the deforestation has on both the workers and those who live indigenously in the forest or the land around it. 

Unlike recycled paper, which does not return high-quality prints and can often cause gritty imagery, FSC paper is indistinguishable from normal paper. This sustainable certification has led certain companies to opt for it as opposed to recycled paper. So far, FSC has certified 174 million hectares of forests worldwide.

Ink

Unfortunately for the printing industry, resolving the issue of the paper being environmentally unfriendly, is only half the battle. Initially, the ink was made from plant-based sources, however by the 1970s, everything had changed. Due to particularly high demand, vegetable oils were no longer able to meet the needs of the country, and so manufacturers turned instead to petroleum-based products.

These petroleum oil inks are otherwise known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Reports have suggested that offset printing uses more than three million tons of hydrocarbon-based inks and chemicals every year, releasing large quantities of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Industry practices that offer less damaging effects to the environment

Companies have, however, started to invest in alternative methods that are less damaging to the environment. These include vegetable-based eco-solvent inks and waterless-based ink. Vegetable-based inks consist of 51% sustainable materials, and unlike their petrol counterparts, which release high amounts of VOCs, vegetable-based inks only contribute between 2-15%. 

Similarly, thanks to technological innovation, significantly less water can be used in production. In the past, vast amounts of water were used to make the ink and in the same sense, keep it dry, whereas now, waterless technology is helping the industry develop.

One such company who is placing an emphasis on becoming an industry leader within sustainable printing is UK book printing specialist, Where the Trade Buys. The company, who have bases in London, Sunderland and Surrey, has significantly invested in becoming an FSC partner, helping to talk care of forests and the people who live in them.