Filed under: Business Practices | Tags: environment, graphic design, graphics, green printing
Advanced researches have successfully proved that the printing industry is the single largest polluter and the third largest consumer of fossil fuels in the world after automobiles and steel manufacturing. It is estimated that printers consume trillions of gallons of water, which again demands treatment on account of its toxin content. Use of adhesives and foils further render the final product un-recyclable. Imagine a situation where millions of such products are being manufactured everyday, which would ultimately end up in a landfill! These volatile products can easily contaminate groundwater, soil, and air (when evaporated) consequently stimulating the occurrence of fatal diseases like cancer, chronic liver and heart malfunctioning.
The concept of green printing is thus an offshoot of increasing environmental degradation. The concept holds a lot of promise as the end product created is recyclable. Since the common printing process is hazardous in itself, steps are taken by green printing firms to use such materials that would not spur the creation of toxins. For instance, the printing paper should be derived from 100 per cent post-consumer waste, processed chlorine free, uncoated, Forest Stewardship Council certified, and manufactured using renewable energy sources like solar power or wind. Vegetable-based ink or soy ink should be used for printing. Dye sublimation is another printing process, vastly used by non-profit organizations these days. The process uses petroleum and other volatile organic compounds instead of solvent-based inks. Digital printing is another alternative towards a more sustainable approach.
Green printing processes can thus help promote the cause of the environment and make your planet look green and beautiful. So help spreading awareness towards eco-friendly printing and save your home from further degradation.
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Suzanne Macguire is a marketing professional, currently engaged in encouraging eco-friendly printing solutions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Macguire
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Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: trade show booths, trade show displays, trade show exhibits, trade show graphics
MODdisplays, a company specializing in trade show displays and exhibit graphics, has returned to the spotlight with the ability to sell eco-friendly graphics for their entasi displays. Many trade show display companies use solvent printers, which are horrible for the environment, but for a small upcharge you can have your entasi display printed using responsible means. The graphic production process produces a graphic called “GreenKnit”, which is a great way to help the environment.
There are hundreds of thousands of trade show graphics printed around the world each year, many of which immediately end up in the trash due to errors in printing and/or laminating by inexperienced printers. Changing the way graphics are printed could have a huge impact on the health of our environment, and MODdisplays realizes this fact. GreenKnit graphics are the first step in a process that will allow graphics to be printed more responsibly.
Green Knit can be used for structures, such as custom projects, Shapes and Entasi, and also for banners. Green Knit can be printed using our state of the art Photo Fabric printing process.
Sixty percent of the yarn used in making Green Knit is one hundred percent recycled. Seven carbon producing manufacturing steps are eliminated in the production of the recycled yarn. For every pound of yarn produced 61,000 BTU’s are conserved (equivalent to .5 gallons of gasoline).
The introduction of this fabric is another example of MODdisplays commitment to environmental responsibility. MODdisplays is proud of its many initiatives in this area that include:
- Our Photo Fabric Dye-Sublimation printing is produced without the use of solvent inks.
- All aluminum scrap is recycled at our three manufacturing plants.
- All paper, cardboard and shipping tubes are recycled at our three plants.
- MODdisplays offers a rental program – encouraging our customers to rent rather than buy and discard after limited use.
- The Belfast plant uses BioHeat instead of standard heating oil.
- The Salt Lake City plant uses swamp coolers instead of air conditioners.
The Step-Up Program provides a progression businesses can follow to become environmentally sustainable and to become leaders in the business community.
You can read more about this photo printing process by visiting the Trade Show Marketing Blog and reading about trade show graphics. You can also read about the top trade show products MODdisplays sells.
Filed under: Business Practices, Consumer Products | Tags: bags, Consumer Products
There are two kinds of degradable carrier bags on the market today. The first being a biodegradable bag – Note the ‘bio’ part of it. This bag is made from a natural maize, which once manufactured, starts to degrade slowly. These are generally the most expensive, and are not ideal if some of the stock needs to be shelved for a lengthy period of time. The second type is a degradable carrier bag. These are basically a plastic carrier bag which has a special agent added to it during the manufacturing process. This agent slowly breaks down the plastic material over a fairly long period of time, which eventually turns it into a harmless vapour and dust, none of which are toxic in any way. These are the cheaper option and probably the most popular. The quality of this type of bag is the same as a standard plastic carrier bag, the only difference being that they are far more environmentally friendly.
These biodegradable bags are also great to use as a promotional tool. They can be printed and personalised with company logos and wording and are proving extremely popular for use at events and exhibitions. It gives the opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves to hundreds, if not thousands of people attending the event, as well as give the visitors something to carry there freebies and literature in.
Most councils and government organisations have switched to using biodegradable bags due to their eco-friendly nature. With the government actively promoting environmental issues and solutions, they have to be seen to be operating in a greener way themselves. There are many other eco type products on the market today, for both domestic and commercial purposes. These range from recycled products, through to energy saving products. The world is becoming more aware of the damage that we are causing to our planet. If more people, and businesses made a few changes to their daily practices and changed their habits with the products they bought and used, the world would be a greener, safer place to live.
