Effective Online Green Printing

More and more people are getting concerned about the environment and how they can help make it better. Going green with printing products such as ultra-thick kraft paper business cards can go a long way in helping the environment. People can go green with their cars, homes, and other aspects of their lives. Every little bit truly helps. Green printing is one way a person or a business can go about helping the environment and still not miss out on quality service.  Green printing preserves trees and the atmosphere Green printing involves the use of recycled paper, like kraft paper business card printing, environmentally friendly ink, and conserving energy. Companies that don’t use green printing methods use inks that are harmful to the environment.

Importance of Recycled Paper

 Trees are used to create the paper and trees are being cut down. The harvesting of trees for paper constitutes 42% of logging. Also, every time recycled paper is used for company printing, valuable landfill space is saved. Recycling paper also helps to save 70% of the energy needed to make new paper. Looking for a company that uses recycled paper for your business printing shows that you care about the environment. According to a study done by the University of Southern Indiana, each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents 64% energy savings, 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution!

What is Green Printing?

According to The Print Authority, green printing is the practice of using renewable energy resources, reducing the use of energy and greenhouse emissions, and using recycled materials. This is where companies such as 4OVER4 use recycled paper to print products such as Kraft business cards, postcards, etc.  Source

Why We Need Green Printing?

Ordinarily, printing companies use chlorine-based bleaches for different printing products. As a result, toxic waste is emitted. This toxic effluent finds its way to the water, soul, and air when bleached papers are thrown away. Furthermore, as paper decomposes it emits methane gas. Environmental scientists say that methane gas is 25 times more toxic than the ordinary Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that we release into the air. Printing companies also use technology that produces alarming levels of ozone. Ozone (O3) is a highly unstable and reactive amount of oxygen that potentially has dangerous side effects on the human body.

The Green Printing Process

Printing companies that decide to go green do so by implementing different practices because it involves a lot of changes. Some companies limit the use of unnecessary chemicals or reusing or recycling paper. Eco-friendly Ink Ink is another vital component of the printing process. Using biodegradable ink goes a long way in protecting the environment. Green printing uses the right ink for the environment. When environmentally safe ink is used, it doesn’t give off harmful byproducts and you don’t have to worry about it damaging the environment when you dispose of it. The following are examples of eco-friendly ink according to printing solutions: Vegetable oil-based inks- These are made of renewable resources like cottonseed, China wood oil. Soy inks- This is recyclable ink that can be reused in other inks and does not contain any volatile chemicals.

Ways of Conserving the Environment

Use of environmentally friendly paper Green printing that conserves the environment is fruitless without the use of environmentally ‘safe’ paper. Paper is the most crucial component in the green printing process and its goals. Eco-friendly papers are carbon-neutral and they help offset the carbon effect on the environment. Producing eco-friendly prints can be done in a variety of ways:  Source Wind Power- This is the use of renewable energy to reduce the emission of toxic gases into the air. Companies such as Strathmore Artists Windpower Watercolor paper use “emissions-free, wind-generated electricity through the purchase of 100% certified renewable energy credits”. Use of tree-free paper- According to The Print Authority, this paper is made from vegetable products such as bamboo, jute, agricultural waste, wheat, and straw. Process Chlorine Free (PCF) Paper- These are papers that have been bleached with only natural compounds. Digital Printing- The digital printing ink sits on the top layer of the substrate because of plate-free technology Water-based aqueous printing- Water-based aqueous coatings are environmentally friendly coatings and are recyclable. They also provide a protective layer. However these days you can access eco-friendly paper which is made from 100% recycled material. You should note the percentage of post-consumer waste in any recyclable paper that you use because it is usually indicated.

Examples of Green Prints

 Source Kraft prints. Kraft prints are made of 100% recycled Kraft paper which is eco-friendly. Kraft bookmarks Kraft paper business cards Kraft greeting cards Kraft hangtags Kraft invitations Kraft menus Customizable Kraft paper postcards Kraft sales sheets Kraft trading cards 30 Mil white plastic cards- These are durable cards that are made of degradable plastic as a suitable green printing option.

Conclusion

As a business writer, I know that green printing, reducing waste and more importantly, toxic waste lowers costs and makes the operation more efficient. This helps the company maximize profitability because of reduced costs and more efficiency. 4OVER4 gives more insight on how to make kraft postcards, kraft business cards, kraft hangtags, and others and how much they cost.