Eco printing offers the perfect balance between getting all our printing jobs done without endangering the environment. In this era of heightened consciousness about ecological and environmental issues, eco printing is probably the most acceptable avatar of the age old printing industry. In spite of the proliferation of digital technologies and the growing popularity of electronic communication, human beings have not been able to bid a complete farewell to printing. Printed matters are still in much need today, and the prospect of a ‘paperless’ office looks pretty distant still.
Now that we have come a long way since the initial thrills of the Industrial Revolution, we’ve started to take a fresh look at our industries. We are becoming increasingly aware about the impact of all our industries on our environment. Mankind has started to take a fresh look at industries and commercial organizations, which have long been responsible, to different extents, for polluting the environment, and depleting the earth’s natural resources.
It is important to realize that the printing industry is no exception to this rampant destruction of the planet’s natural resources. In fact, surprisingly enough, its effect on the environment is an extremely harmful one. Like most other production operations, printing houses also produce harmful waste products that pollute the air we breathe in. They also put a great drain on precious natural resources. Printing houses emit what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, varnishes and adhesives. Studies show that these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the risk of asthma attacks.
In an effort to put a stop all this madness, measures are being adopted by many printers the world over to comply with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly practices. The movement to switch to eco printing is underway.
Eco printing, however, has a larger scope than is apparent. Eco printing has a dual essence. In order to understand what it is really all about, the issue of conservation is no less important than the need to stop polluting the environment. The real challenge is to find the perfect balance between the two. One can’t help feel a little disturbed by the fact that the paper and printing industry ranks fourth among manufacturers on the scale of energy usage. Paper production, the electricity used for factory operations and the actual printing process require a lot of fossil fuels. It puts a huge drain on the natural resources of the planet.
Eco printing is the answer. Printing need not come at such a dear price. Certified eco printing services keep track of the total energy usage and adopt strategies to reduce the harmful impact brought about by their businesses on the environment. The fundamental purport of eco printing is being �sustainable’. Eco printing companies carefully plan operations to minimize electricity use, curb the drain on natural resources and source paper from companies certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is synonymous with well-managed forests that adhere to strict environmental standards. It also means recycling and reusing paper and other supplies whenever possible.
It’s time to start sending all our printing jobs to an eco printing company. It’s never been easier to go �green’. After all, we owe it to ourselves to keep our planet green.