Breaking News
Loading...
Friday, August 12, 2016

Info Post
By Michelle Hall


Consumer patterns are shaped by many things that range from the quality of a product to the price to the values of the manufacturer and so on. Recent times have seen increased demand for products manufactured in a manner which conserves the environment and a drop for those which do not. The digital printing industry is among those greatly affected. Digital printing that is eco friendly can be achieved in a number of ways.

Ink is among the most important inputs of this process. The type of ink used has traditionally been derived from fossil fuels meaning it has possessed a potential harmful effect to the environment. When the ink is broken down in the environment, it results in the production of volatile organic compounds, VOCs, which in turn react with environmental gases to form a low lying ozone layer. The ozone is harmful because it contributes to smog formation.

Printing paper is another important input in the process. Continued use of paper has put trees and by extension, important ecosystems, at risk. The two options are virgin and recycled paper. Whereas the former is obtained directly from trees, recycled paper makes use of paper used previously. There is no doubt that an environmental conscious business will opt for the recycled paper option. Apart from conservation, recycled paper is also cheaper to process.

A number of other materials can also be recycled in the same way as the paper. Ink and water are among those easiest to reuse. Firms may recycle as much as 60% of their water if they install efficient systems. This will go a long way not only in preserving this important resource but also in reducing the cost of operation. The greater focus should be on reducing wastage as much as possible.

Make an effort to reduce on your energy consumption. This may require you to conduct regular evaluation to determine whether your printers are functioning optimally. The printers should give you the highest output possible for a single kilowatt of electricity consumed. Another measure which needs to be undertaken is a shift from total reliance on fossil based fuels. Both solar and wind energy are now being considered effective alternatives.

Fabric printing just like paper based printing is also undergoing some radical changes in a bid to ensure that they are sustainable. Among the changes taking place is a change in the pre-treatment of fabrics before they are printed on. The traditional approach involves the use of urea based chemicals which yield carbon dioxide during the steaming process. Newer methods use a special kind of form which has no urea.

Digital engraving is another useful development which is helping achieve sustainability as relates to fabric printing. It is an option that is being adopted in place of traditional techniques that use wax or ink. The older alternatives not only require a lot of water during processing but also take quite long. Digital engraving uses laser to create prints on fabrics.

Every business has a responsibility towards the environment. Processes used should promote environmental sustainability and the same should be applied to the entire supply chain. Sustainable solutions are not only beneficial to the environment but also helps the business by reducing the operating costs in the long term. The consumer may also benefit through fair priced products.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment