Going green is always a great business choice. It’s good for your brand because it shows that your company is a conscientious member of the community, driven to preserve the environment and protect life on this planet. That, of course, means that it’s good for the world at large too. Bring sustainable and eco-friendly choices to every aspect of your business, including large format printing usage. Printers use their fair share of resources and consist of materials that, if released into the environment, could prove dangerous to people, flora, and fauna. Here’s how to approach large format printing sustainability. Changing just a few of these habits and practices can help create a cleaner and safer planet for everyone.
Understand the Environmental Impact
Unfortunately, every electronic device has an impact on the environment. Whether through its manufacture, its power usage, the supplies it uses to perform tasks, or its eventual disposal, electronic devices affect the ecosystem in some way. Printers are no exception. The printing process uses solvent-based inks. These can harm the ecosystem since they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are unhealthy for living things and can adversely affect the ozone layer.
Furthermore, printers use up paper and other materials as well, leading to the loss of trees and other natural resources. The waste large format printers generate can also pack the landfills with potentially harmful substances. Keeping all that in mind is the first step toward sustainability. Here are a few ways to diminish your own large format printer and go easier on the earth.
Switch to Eco-Friendly Inks
A terrific first step toward printer sustainability is making the jump to using only eco-friendly inks. Some inks use fewer VOCs, which is always better. Water-based inks lack solvents that can hurt the earth and deliver prints that are just as high in quality. Latex inks are another alternative lacking in high amounts of VOCs and have the added benefit of being odor free and nontoxic. UV-curable inks perform the nifty function of automatically curing under ultraviolet light, eliminating the release of solvents altogether. Switching over from VOC-based inks and toner is a good move that shouldn’t affect your ink budget too much.
Use Sustainable Print Materials
As mentioned, when you use paper that comes directly from trees, you put a greater strain on the ecosystem. Chopped-down trees require replacing and can take years to grow to full maturity. So switch to sustainable materials. Use recycled paper in your projects. It’s just as effective as regular paper. You can also use canvas instead of synthetic fabrics for prints. It’s a sustainable and renewable material that’ll swiftly break down in landfills when discarded. Other materials, or substrates, include non-polyvinyl chloride fabrics and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, which is recyclable and stronger than other nonrecyclable plastic films or vinyl. Ask your supplier about eco-friendly alternatives like these for your large format printer.
Go for Energy-Efficient Printers
Large format printers use electricity—sometimes quite a bit during an intensive print job. Fortunately, technology has advanced, and today’s large format printers are more energy efficient than printers of the past. It takes less energy to cure ink because modern printers employ LED curing. Printers run cooler as well, lowering temperatures and using less energy to do their job. That doesn’t just mean less of a strain on resources. It means lower utility bills for your business as well!
Check Your Waste
Efficient printers, safer inks, and recycled paper can only do so much. Waste is waste, so take stock and inventory the number of materials you use. Also, find out whether you’re using them wisely. Reduce extraneous printing by minding your print runs and keeping to a predetermined amount. Print as much, if not more than, you need for a job. Keep limited print runs and print-on-demand concepts in mind. They provide greater discipline in your printing practices and produce less waste as a result. You can always print more if you need to, but excessive print runs will only end up in the trash.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!
“Waste not, want not,” as the old saying goes. These kinds of sayings stick around because they’re true. Develop a recycling program for your facility, and educate employees about how they can help save the planet through recycling and proper disposal. Most paper, of course, is recyclable. Separate paper and recyclable plastic materials into large containers. Speak to your waste disposal company about recycling programs. And if they don’t provide them, consider hiring another company.
Keep spent ink and toner cartridges separate from other trash. Your community may already have a special waste disposal and recycling program in place. Or you can contact the manufacturer about ways to get rid of them. Your printer will eventually wear out, and you’ll need to buy an upgraded system. When that happens, ask the manufacturer or supplier selling you the new device about getting rid of the old one. If the printer still works, don’t throw it away! Many schools, organizations, and charities could use a fully functional large format printer.
What’s Next?
Those are just a few thoughts on how to approach large format printing sustainability. With proper use and careful planning, you can ensure your large format printer has a smaller carbon footprint. Here’s a quick breakdown of the above:
- Use non-VOC-solvent-containing inks for your printer.
- Employ recyclable and sustainable substrates, or print materials, such as biodegradable canvas and PET film.
- Buy or employ an energy-efficient large format printer.
- Curb your waste by watching your printing output.
- Recycle as much as you can. Be careful with spent ink cartridges. And don’t simply chuck your old printer into a landfill.
Do you have questions about large format printers and sustainability? Do you want to buy a large format printer for your business or association but want to ensure it’s a greener choice? Contact us to arrange a consultation, and we’ll discuss your many options. We’re a great source of large format printing equipment and materials, including recyclable 28 lb plotter paper and films. Reach out to us today. We look forward to hearing from you!
