With concern growing about the fragile state of the world’s environment, businesses in all sectors are under pressure to adopt eco-friendly practices in the drive to attain Net Zero. Narrow web printers are widely used in label and packaging production by many companies but their impact on the environment can be significant. However, by implementing some cost-effective environmentally friendly strategies, businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and save money.
In this article, we’ll outline five effective strategies you can implement to make your narrow web digital printing more sustainable.
1. Implement energy efficient technology
A key aspect of going green with narrow web printers is to implement energy-efficient technologies. With no warm-up time and instant on/off, LED curing systems, for instance, consume less energy and produce significantly fewer carbon emissions compared to traditional curing methods. By integrating the latest LED curing systems in your printing processes, you can reduce your energy consumption, slash costs, and lessen your business’s environmental impact.
2. Reduce waste through optimising colour management
Waste in the printing industry is not just about ink and paper but includes misprints and reworks, both of which mean additional resources are unnecessarily consumed. It’s vital, of course, to produce the best quality print, but to minimise waste you should invest in precise colour management and registration systems which ensure that every print comes out right the first time, every time. With fewer reprints, you’ll reduce the cost of consumables and decrease your business’s energy consumption and carbon emissions.
3. Prioritise recycling
Implementing recycling programmes for waste products and print consumables that are generated during the printing process is essential. For example, of the 65 million ‘office’ printer cartridges sold to individuals and businesses in the UK each year, only 15 per cent are recycled; those that are disposed of in landfill take more than 1,000 years to fully decompose, while residual ink can leak into the soil, affecting ecosystems and underground water courses. Large scale commercial print businesses have a stronger track record on sustainability, but nevertheless, by doubling down on resource management and sustainability at every level of your print process, your business can play a valuable part in reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill and encourage responsible resource management.
4. Join a green supply chain
Sourcing eco-friendly materials is another effective way to improve your business’s sustainability. Choose suppliers who are committed to sustainable practices by sourcing inks, substrates, and other printing materials that have been produced with minimal environmental impact. Where possible, opt for local suppliers to reduce harmful transport emissions.
5.Train and engage your staff
The success of any sustainability initiative lies in the hands of the people who are operating the printing machines. Through training programmes which equip your staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate in an environmentally responsible manner, you can encourage employee engagement with your business’s commitment to sustainability and eradicate bad practice.
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