As eco-friendly printing companies will comprehensively understand, awareness of the various global environmental challenges is on the rise, and so is the prioritisation of sustainable printing practices across most industries.
There has certainly been a big shift towards sustainability in the printing industry itself, and there is now a growing emphasis on finding eco-friendly solutions throughout the entire printing process. In fact, there are already plenty of new innovations and technologies helping the print industry rise to the challenge of becoming more sustainable. Plus, various certifications exist so that eco-friendly printing companies can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable printing practices.
It is also becoming more and more beneficial to use sustainable printing practices from a purely business perspective. It can be cost-effective, while a growing number of customers are demanding environmental responsibility from the print companies they do business with.
Let’s look closer at these innovations and certifications that are helping create eco-friendly printing companies.
Sustainable Innovations And Technologies
The print industry has embraced a variety of sustainable printing practices including innovations like eco-friendly inks and toners. These include both soy-based inks and algae inks, the latter of which actually has a negative carbon footprint. There is also more sustainably-sourced paper and more energy-efficient machinery.
Some advancements in technology are also improving sustainability in the printing industry, such as the aforementioned energy-efficient printing machinery and equipment. The latest printing machines are now designed to consume less energy and produce less waste.
Environmental Standards And Certifications
There are multiple certifications that eco-friendly printing companies can achieve to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable printing practices.
First of all is the ISO 14001, which sets out the criteria for a certifiable environmental management system. As an annually checked certification, it provides assurance to customers as well as print company employees and stakeholders that the environmental impact of the certified company is being measured and improved.
There are also the FSC and PEFC certifications which ensure a commitment to upholding environmental standards, reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable printing practices.
The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification is for forest managers to ensure they uphold standards at their end, while the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is for paper manufacturers and eco-friendly printing companies to show that their paper is sustainably sourced with a fully audited and verifiable supply chain from FSC-certified forest to end use.
Benefits Of Sustainable Practices
Adopting sustainable printing practices has numerous benefits for businesses. Firstly, environmental awareness continues to increase among the general populace and it is becoming more and more important for companies to improve their brand image. Today’s consumers are more conscious of the impact of their purchases on the environment, and thus prefer businesses that align with their values.
In addition, practising sustainability in the printing industry ensures regulatory compliance while optimising the use of resources, which in turn can lead to significant cost savings.
Discover our eco-friendly solutions that don’t compromise on quality, get in touch with Think, Design and Print today.
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