Demand for Sustainable Commercial Printing Products Drive Trends Towards “Green Printing”

An increased consciousness regarding climate change and our impact on the planet’s well being has caused a demand for change in many areas of everyday life. Being environmentally responsible has changed the way we change light bulbs, the containers we drink water from and the kinds of cars we drive. And this environmental revolution has found its way into the corporate world. Businesses big and small want to be sure that they are doing their part to keep our planet healthy. In fact, many companies are updating their mission statements to include green practices in their everyday activities. Because of this dedication to social responsibility, one of the industries that is seeing a major difference in what is being demanded of them is the commercial printing industry. In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint and to set a good example, many businesses want sustainable commercial printing products in their offices. This means a change in the type of papers used and the type of ink used when printing, which falls on commercial printing companies to incorporate. Below we explore the adjustments that are being made by many companies that do commercial printing in Los Angeles.

Paper

In its infant stages in the 1980s, recycled paper was not always considered to be of the best quality. It often had an uneven and less-than-white finish. However technology has advanced in recent years so that recycled paper no longer means compromising quality. Recycled paper now meets the same technical specifications as “virgin” paper, meaning that it has the same brightness, even texture and performance capabilities as new paper. The caveat is that as a business owner you need to request that recycled paper be used. Some commercial printing companies are making recycled paper a standard that is offered but, often, it still needs to be requested.

Ink

Soy-based inks are much kinder to the environment than their petroleum-based cousins. Petroleum inks are made from a non-renewable source and emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they dry. VOCs are one of the contributers to air pollution and causes of global warming. While soy and vegetable based inks are not free of VOCs, they do have a much lower emission of them. Requesting alternative inks means a more responsible finish to your printed products.

Mailing

When ordering printed products through an online resource, oftentimes your products will be shipped to your office and then distributed from there. To reduce fuel emissions and redundant shipping patterns, many commercial printing companies are offering mailing services with your order. They can send out your brochures, pamphlets, postcards, etc., to your mailing list for you, lowering both of your carbon footprints and increasing environmental responsibility.

Again, while these services are being offered and adopted by many printing companies, green printing is still not often the standard. If your business wants to incorporate green practices into your printing process, look for a commercial printing company that offers green printing and work with them from there. The more of a demand there is for green printing, the more likely it is that it will become the standard.