As we become more aware of the environment, sustainable printing is the way forward. 

According to Business Waste, 26% of waste in landfills worldwide is paper, and producing recycled paper uses 30% less energy than making new paper. 

It’s no secret that the printing process can have significant environmental effects, but sustainable methods can help. 

Sustainable printing is the method of printing banners, posters, and printed products in a way that causes minimal impact to the environment. Printing can cause harm to the planet due to packaging materials, cartridges, and paper waste. 

The good news? 

Sustainable printing doesn’t lessen the high-quality result. 

At Fantasy Prints, we understand the impact of sustainable printing. As a result, we have a range of eco-friendly printing options to cause as little damage to the environment as possible. 

In this blog, we’ll explore all things sustainable printing. We’ll take a deep dive into the processes and why it’s an important aspect to look out for during the printing process. 

Let’s dive in! 

What is Sustainable Printing? 

Sustainable printing is the process of printing that causes less harm to the environment than alternative ways. This practice is all about considering the impact of every printing decision and using methods that have as little impact as possible. From wayfinding signage printing to business cards and event posters and banners, there are plenty of opportunities to utilise the methods. 

Some key processes are:

• Using renewable resources: Using resources that have the ability to be naturally replaced can have less of an impact on the environment. Examples could be recycled paper and biodegradable substrates, like wood, that break down over time. 
• Minimising waste: The point above links to minimising waste, as using renewable resources will lead to this. You can achieve this by managing production methods, like the key precision that digital printing uses, to make sure you only use what’s necessary. 
• Reducing energy consumption: Using as little energy as possible will reduce the environmental impact, like LED-UV printing and digital printing. These processes consume less power and tend to operate at a lower temperature. 

Furthermore, some green printing practices can contribute to sustainable printing. For example, using recycled materials, and opting for plant-based or water-based inks. 

Environmentally friendly inks contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can help with reducing air pollution. As a result, the process is also safer for workers too. 

Society’s newfound focus on protecting the environment as much as possible has resulted in advancements in print technology. Like the ink mentioned above, these are just some examples of eco-friendly steps you can take to reduce material and chemical waste. Digital printing techniques, for example, don’t require printing plates. 

Printing plates often have a short lifespan as if even the slightest change is required, so is a brand new plate. 

What’s the result? Unnecessary waste! 

Types of Eco-Friendly Printing

We’ve covered some eco-friendly printing types, but there are plenty more to explore. 

Sustainable and green printing practices are rife at the moment as more and more people are beginning to take an interest in responsible choices. Environmentally conscious customers and clients are interested in specific practices, so it’s worth knowing the different types out there. 

Here are some examples:

Digital Printing

For short runs, digital printing is the better option when it comes to sustainability. Offset methods, the one that uses plates, are more traditional and common. It takes a long time to set up these printers and is often a main reason for wasted materials due to the amount needed. 

Digital printing is a more environmentally friendly choice because it’s better for on-demand printing and the lack of chemical use. You can be specific and only specify the exact amount needed for what you’re printing. The plate-making process also generally involves a lot of cleaning agents, which you can avoid with digital printing. 

Finally, digital printers these days are designed with energy-efficiency in mind. This means they’re designed to withstand the demand of use without consuming too much energy or power. Their modern design also ensures these printers deliver the same amount of quality as other methods, so you don’t need to worry about letting your clients down. 

Sustainable Substrates and Materials  

Eco-friendly printing practices include using plant, water, or soy-based ink as opposed to common, dye-based ink, which generally contains chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or hazardous air pollutants (HAP). Low-VOC inks are another option, which have a similar positive effect. 

A common option of eco-friendly printing is opting for recycled or sustainability-sourced print materials and paper products to print onto. Using these materials can reduce your carbon footprint whilst maintaining the high-quality outcome you’re striving for. 

At Fantasy Prints we print onto a range of recycled materials. From flyers to leaflets, rigid boards, eco banners, and more, we can provide the materials and ensure a high-quality outcome each time. 

UV Direct-to-Substrate Printing with LED Curing

UV direct-to-substrate printing is something we leverage at Fantasy Prints, allowing us to print onto a range of rigid surfaces. This method is a lot more sustainable than using average printers because the UV light removes the need for drying time. Therefore, it’s an excellent method of green printing for all your shop signage and advertising needs. 

In UV direct-to-substrate printing, the UV (ultraviolet) inks are applied directly to the substrate. When exposed to UV light the inks then cure and harden, creating a durable and long-lasting print. Unlike traditional printing processes, this technique doesn’t use the energy it takes for drying. 

Furthermore, LED curing is another environmentally friendly choice for sustainable printing. LED bulbs use a lot less energy than traditional ones, as they produce less heat and use less power. 

Extended drying times where blowers or infrared lamps are needed take up a lot of energy, and ventilation requirements can cause harmful chemicals to be released into the air. Opting for UV and LED is a lot more sustainable and better for the environment. 

This curing is another environmentally friendly choice for sustainable printing. 

They also don’t emit chemicals that can harm the environment, which is good for the workers as well as the planet. 

This method is one of the best ones when it comes to eco-friendly printing. 

At Fantasy Prints, we believe in this method and adopt it in our processes. These methods, UV direct-to-substrate printing and LED curing allow us to print on almost all kinds of rigid materials. From wood to metal, acrylic, foam boards like Foamex and Correx, and more, this method allows us to achieve high-quality and durable printing results. 

So if you’re looking for an eco banner or signage for your business, look no further! 

The Benefits of Sustainable Printing

Sustainable printing and green printing technology have some great benefits; ones that you might’ve not considered before. Whether you require greetings cards printing or large format display stands, there are plenty of reasons why sustainable printing is the way forward.

As it stands, 75% of the Earth’s land surface has been significantly altered by human actions, according to the UN Environment Programme. As you can probably imagine, because of this, it’s more important than ever to opt for sustainable practices wherever you can. 

Printing is a great place to start. 

Here are some benefits of sustainable printing and eco-friendly design options: 

Positive Environmental Impact 

You probably already guessed this one, but sustainable printing practices can have a positive impact on the environment. As we’ve already mentioned, opting for methods like UV direct-to-substrate printing and LED curing doesn’t use as much energy as other printing methods. 

This is because it emits less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and reduces the amount of energy needed. 

Furthermore, using recyclable and renewable materials like inks and FSC-certified wood or recycled paper helps to minimise processes like deforestation and the extraction of resources that aren’t renewable. 

You can achieve just as high-quality large format printing, like posters or banners, when using recycled print materials. Even just changing one practice or material at a time can have a positive impact on the environment. 

Health Benefits 

Alongside the positive impact on the environment, opting for sustainable printing practices can also benefit your health. Water-based inks contain fewer harmful chemicals and don’t produce VOCs (volatile organic compounds). 

This just means that during the printing process, less harmful chemicals and toxic emissions are released which is better for your health as it improves the air quality. This occurs both indoors and outdoors, a win-win! 

Better Brand Image

These days, sustainability is a priority for many people and businesses. As people become more conscious of saving the planet, eco-friendly printing is a big attraction. Adopting green printing practices can enhance your brand image and strengthen your reputation as a responsible organisation. 

Customer loyalty will increase and you’ll attract eco-conscious customers seeking sustainable printing solutions. 

Cost Savings

Printing processes can be expensive, it comes with the territory! However, a lot of sustainable printing processes can save you money in the long run. For example, despite the potential for a higher upfront cost, you’ll save money by using LED lights as they use less power. 

Furthermore, eco-friendly print materials and products are often durable and have a longer lifespan as there’s less need to constantly replace them. This can get expensive, especially if you require large format printing. Over time, you’ll save money and reduce your carbon and environmental footprint. 

Green printing technology and practices have a lot of benefits that are worth aiming for. Keeping these practices in mind shows a forward-thinking approach that benefits businesses, customers, and the environment. 

How to Implement Sustainable Printing in Your Business

You’re probably thinking, 

“These practices sound great, but how do I go about using them for printing?” 

The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can adopt sustainable and green printing practices. 

Your customers will appreciate your commitment to reducing harm to the environment as you align with their eco-conscious values. 

Asses Printing Needs

One of the first steps to take is to analyse and assess the amount of printers you actually need. How many printers do you have? Do you use them all? Is there any way you can reduce the number of them? 

Doing this will reduce excess printing waste, reducing environmental impact as a result. 

Furthermore, look at where you can optimise your printing methods by replacing printers with environmentally-friendly ones. Try to swap out the printers and opt for ones that use LED curing or UV direct-to-substrate-printing, as well as water-based or soy-based inks instead of ones that release VOCs into the atmosphere. 

Choose Eco-Friendly Materials

As we mentioned before, there are plenty of eco-friendly materials you can use to keep printing for display stands and signage as sustainable as possible. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, which is a non-governmental organisation that promotes responsible forest management. 

If you see “FSC-certified wood”, it means it’s been approved. By using it, you’re supporting conservation efforts. 

Choosing biodegradable substrates can help to reduce the impact on the environment. For example, prioritising eco banners made from renewable resources can significantly reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to printing. 

Opting for green print materials is a forward-thinking approach to sustainable practices. 

Leverage Technology

Digital green printing technology causes a lot less damage to the environment than more traditional methods that require prints. Digital printing doesn’t use plates or screens, so you don’t need to worry about too much waste as it uses the right amount of ink each time. This precise, on-demand production approach will also help to streamline processes too. 

Certain equipment will have built-in green printing technology, like UV direct-to-substrate printers with LED curing. These processes are better for the environment and are designed with sustainability in mind. These technologies make sure to deliver high-quality results each time, so you don’t need to worry about compromising the results. 

Work with Eco-Conscious Suppliers

One of the best ways to ensure sustainability with your printing processes from start to finish is by working with suppliers who have it on their minds. At Fantasy Prints, we prioritise eco-printing and implement these solutions in our printing. We use energy-efficient processes, use recycled materials, and energy-efficient printing technology, and deliver top-quality results each time. 

By following these actionable steps, you can implement these sustainable printing methods into your operations. Doing this will ensure you align with environmental standards and reduce your carbon footprint through printing. 

The Future of Sustainable Printing

There’s no denying that as humans, our actions and choices can directly impact the environment. Because of this, consumers and businesses are looking at ways to reduce their impact wherever they can. In the printing industry, this is vital. 

The future of the printing industry is green as people adopt more eco-friendly practices and printing technology. Green printing technology is on the rise, with businesses opting for the processes mentioned above like UV direct-to-substrate printing and LED curing processes. 

Furthermore, water and plant-based inks are more accessible, as opposed to the ones that contain VOCs that are harmful to the environment. 

A large factor to consider in the future of sustainable printing is the way people respond to it. People take sustainability into account more now than ever, and it’s only going to increase as time goes on. 

Consumers are seeking businesses who meet eco-conscious expectations and demonstrate this in their printing practices. Customers are prioritising brands who opt for eco-friendly printing methods, and this will pave the way for the future of sustainable methods. 

Sustainable Printing: What It Is and Why It’s Important

Sustainable printing might feel like a trend, but it’s more than that. 

It’s a step in the right direction towards reducing carbon footprints and reducing the negative impact we have on the environment. Businesses that adopt these practices will enhance their brand image, especially to eco-conscious customers, and save on long-term costs. 

Furthermore, thanks to green printing technology, businesses don’t need to compromise on quality. You can get just as much of a high-quality and visually appealing outcome when opting for eco-friendly printing. 

At Fantasy Prints, we have an extensive range of sustainable printing options. We prioritise eco-friendly processes and take the responsibility of sustainability seriously. Our eco-friendly product range includes eco-workwear, business gifts, and so much more. Furthermore, our sustainable printing process involves using UV direct-to-substrate, UV inks and LED curing to cause as little harm to the environment as possible. 

For more information on sustainable printing practices contact us today. Or, take a look at our eco-printing range for some environmentally-friendly inspiration. Happy sustainable printing!