The drive to save the planet from pollution is on and everybody is doing their bit. In this age marked by a heightened awareness about environmental issues, there is an all round effort to go green, stop environmental pollution and save the planet we live in. We are taking a fresh look at industries and commercial organizations, which have long been blamed, to varying extents, for polluting the environment and depleting the earth’s natural resources. We are evaluating our actions and trying to understand the harmful impact
Speaking of industries, the printing industry is surprisingly one of the most harmful ones. Let’s face it, printing services are still in much demand everywhere, even in this electronic era. The proliferation of digital technology and the prospect of ‘paperless’ offices have done little to lessen its popularity. Printing jobs are still widely sought after today and printing presses everywhere are brimming over with a steady flow of orders everyday.
The flip side of the picture is rather disturbing. Like most other production operations, printing houses also produce harmful wastes that pollute the air we breathe in and also put a great drain on precious natural resources. Printing houses emit what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, varnishes and adhesives. Studies show that these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the risk of asthma attacks. Consequently, measures are being adopted by many printers worldwide to comply with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly practices. The goal is to switch over to eco-friendly printing.
Eco-friendly printing has a larger scope than many would realize. What is important to realize is that the issue of conservation is no less important than the need to stop polluting the environment. The essence of eco-friendly is in finding the perfect balance between the two. One would be astonished to learn that paper and printing industry ranks fourth among manufacturers on the scale of energy usage. Paper production, the electricity used for factory operations, as well as the actual printing process, demands plenty of fossil fuels. It is easy to understand the huge strain that conventional printing puts on the planet and her natural resources.
The answer to end this destruction is to switch over to eco-friendly printing. Certified eco-friendly printing services keep track of the total energy usage and implement strategies that reduce the harmful impact brought about by their businesses on the environment. Eco-friendly printing is actually all about being a ‘sustainable’ printing process. Eco-friendly printing carefully plan operations to minimize electricity use, curb the drain on natural resources and source paper from companies certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is synonymous with well-managed forests that adhere to strict environmental standards. It also means recycling and reusing paper and other supplies whenever possible.
Where can we fit into this picture? The answer is easy. We can start by trying to send all our printing jobs to eco-friendly printers. There is no dearth of such printers offering eco-friendly printing services. Printers such as Bacchus Press have successfully implemented eco-friendly, ‘green’ measures into every aspect of their printing process.
The bottomline is, premium quality printing jobs need not be accomplished at a cost to the environment. With
eco-friendly printing, you can get all your printing done to your complete satisfaction and yet stay ‘green’ all the way.
