Green Printing – a Great Way to Go ‘green’!

All the technological advancements made by mankind have come at a dear cost to the environment. The proliferation of industries has had its adverse effect on the environment. The by-products of most production processes have contributed to global pollution to varying extents. But the world cannot exist without industry. On the other hand, we must stop destroying the environment we live and breathe in. So, what’s the way out of this strange predicament?

The answer lies in striking a balance between the two. Ecology and industry CAN exist side-by-side. Existing processes need to be reappraised and remodeled to lessen their harmful impact on the environment. Raw materials need to be sourced in such a way that they don’t put a severe strain on the natural resources of the planet. The time has come to take a fresh look at processes that we have come to take for granted.

A case in point is the printing industry. Printing services are still among the most sought after services on the planet. Even in this era of digital technology and ‘paperless’ offices, mankind has not been able to completely do away with the need for paper and printing. Printing jobs are still in much need today and printing presses everywhere are keeping busy with a steady influx of orders everyday.

Printing houses, unbeknownst to many, have a fair share in the nefarious game of polluting the environment. Did you know that like most production operations, printing houses also produce harmful wastes? Printing houses produce what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, varnishes and adhesives. Studies have shown that these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the risk of asthma attacks. As a result, measures are being adopted by many printers worldwide to comply with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly practices.

All this necessitates the need for switching over to ‘green printing’, or, in other words, an alternate mode of printing which maintains consistent industry processes without putting the environment at a perilous risk. However, this is only half of what “green printing” is really all about. The issue of conservation is no less important than the need to stop polluting the environment. Green printing attempts to successfully combine the two.

It is surprising to learn that the paper and printing industry ranks fourth among manufacturers in the amount of energy used. Producing paper and the electricity used for factory operations, as well as the actual printing process, demand lots of fossil fuels. Printers, thus, put a major strain on the planet, draining her natural resources in alarming magnitude.

Certified eco-friendly green printing services keep track of the total energy usage and implement strategies for offsetting the environmental impact of their businesses. Their goal is to be “sustainable printers”, meaning they will be carefully planning operations to minimize electricity use, put a lighter drain on natural resources and source paper from companies certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is virtually synonymous with well-managed forests that adhere to strict environmental standards. It also means recycling and reusing paper and other supplies whenever possible. That’s what “green printing” is all about.

By choosing eco-friendly green printing services for all our printing needs, we can show that we really care about our environment and act as responsible citizens of the planet. Sending all our printing jobs to certified green printers offering environment friendlygreen printing services can go a long way in helping conserve the environment and pave the way for a greener tomorrow for our children. The time to go green is now. Let’s become a part of the global green movement!