It is possible to reduce your carbon footprint and environmental impact by implementing green practices when it comes to printing your professional publications. Kelly Eldringhoff, Account Executive at Mosaic, a waterless print communication company specializing in commercial, digital and waterless printing, gave us some tips on how you can transform your printing practices:
- Choose Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and recycled paper. FSC certified assures that the paper comes from managed, sustainable forests. The closer you can get to 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled, the better. Recycled paper saves trees, reduces the use of toxic chemicals, uses less energy and produces fewer emissions than virgin paper (paper made without post-consumer waste).
- Choose a green printer. Your printer should be FSC certified, recycle and be carbon neutral. FSC certified printers assure the customers that the papers they purchase come from managed sustainable forests. They recycle all waste from the pressroom to the bindery; no trimmings or waste should be thrown away. A carbon neutral printer will also replace its energy with wind power.
- Choose Soy based inks. Soy-based inks help prevent pollution (low in VOC’s, or Volatile Organic Compounds). They are a safe, sustainable, and renewable resource, promote paper recycling (they are more easily stripped from paper during the de-inking / recycling process than petroleum inks) and they create less waste on press (they remain more stable throughout the printing process so there are fewer ‘rejects” at the end of the print run).
- Use a waterless printing process. Waterless printing is the most environmentally friendly printing process available. This process eliminates many of the harmful chemicals used in conventional offset printing process. Waterless also gives the printer better quality and control, allowing them to conserve paper.
- Have your designer work directly with your printer throughout the design process. This will allow you to get the most use out of your printed piece and your budget!
For more information about green printing or Mosaic, visit www.mosaicprint.com.
