Eco-responsible printing: How to reduce the carbon footprint of your projects
Adopting eco-responsible practices doesn’t just provide a competitive advantage in tomorrow’s markets, it’s also a driver of distinction in today’s markets. Reducing the carbon footprint of your projects, whether big or small, is genuine added value for your customers, wherever they happen to be.
A 100% recycled leaflet? Posters printed using vegetable inks? A local plant using energy-saving technologies?
Putting one or more of these solutions in place will not only allow you to set yourself apart in an industry that is increasingly aware of environmental issues, but also contribute in a meaningful way to the reduction of your carbon footprint.
Where do you start?
With paper and ink
One of the most efficient means towards greener printing lies in the selection of materials. Paper, for example, constitutes a significant part of the carbon footprint. By choosing recycled or FSC-certified paper, you reduce deforestation and the energy needed to manufacture that paper. The use of vegetable inks, such as soy-based inks, means that pollutants such as heavy metals often found in traditional, petroleum-based inks can be reduced.
Our equipment
Equipment efficiency is also a key factor, because the more the apparatus is used, the higher the environmental impact becomes. Energy-efficient printers, when they’re Energy Star certified for example, consume less electricity, and emit less CO₂. In addition, simple practices like double-sided printing or the selection of adjusted resolutions can help reduce waste. Print-on-demand is also an effective strategy for preventing the excessive production of unneeded documents.
The circular economy
Contributing to the circular economy is another way of reducing the carbon footprint. In particular this happens through implementation of solutions like ink cartridge recycling, or the use of refurbished machines, which limits the production of electronic waste. This is in addition to initiatives like the reduction of plastics and packaging, as well as the optimization of logistics to promote local production.
By adopting these eco-responsible practices, you play an active part in saving the environment while at the same time reinforcing the competitiveness of your projects. Remember: Every action counts towards reducing the carbon footprint and helping create a more sustainable future.
Did you know?
Recycling one tonne of paper can save 4 tonnes of CO₂ emissions compared to producing paper from virgin pulp, according to the Environmental Paper Network.