| No matter what one would have us believe, printing | | | | industry ranks fourth among manufacturers in the |
| services are still among the most sought after | | | | amount of energy used. Producing paper and the |
| services. Even in this age of electronic communication | | | | electricity used for factory operations, as well as the |
| and ‘paperless’ offices, mankind has not been | | | | actual printing process, demand lots of fossil fuels. |
| able to fully shrug off the need for paper. Printing jobs | | | | Printers, thus, put a major strain on the planet, draining |
| are still in need and printing presses everywhere are | | | | her natural resources in alarming magnitude. |
| keeping busy with a steady influx of orders everyday. | | | | Certified eco-friendly printing services keep track of |
| This is also an age marked by an increased | | | | the total energy usage and implement strategies for |
| awareness about environmental issues. There is a | | | | offsetting the environmental impact of their businesses. |
| conscious effort everywhere to go green, stop | | | | Their goal is to be “sustainable printers”, meaning |
| environmental pollution and save the planet we live in. | | | | they will be carefully planning operations to minimize |
| This new heightened awareness has necessitated the | | | | electricity use, put a lighter drain on natural resources |
| need to take a fresh look into industries and | | | | and source paper from companies certified by the |
| commercial organizations, which have long been | | | | Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is virtually |
| blamed, to varying extents, for polluting the | | | | synonymous with well-managed forests that adhere to |
| environment and depleting the earth’s natural | | | | strict environmental standards. It also means recycling |
| resources. We have also started to think how such | | | | and reusing paper and other supplies whenever |
| harmful effects can be diminished and keep the planet | | | | possible. That’s what “green printing” is all |
| green. | | | | about. |
| Like most production operations, printing houses also | | | | By choosing eco-friendly printing services for all our |
| produce harmful wastes. Printing houses produce what | | | | printing needs, we can show that we really care about |
| are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), | | | | our environment and act as responsible citizens of the |
| caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, | | | | planet. It’s always comforting to know that |
| varnishes and adhesives. Studies have shown that | | | | we’re doing our part to protect and conserve the |
| these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the | | | | environment. It’s also reassuring to know that our |
| risk of asthma attacks. As a result, measures are | | | | printing requirements will not endanger the earth by |
| being adopted by many printers worldwide to comply | | | | adding toxins and harmful pollutants, or by depleting |
| with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly | | | | natural resources. Everybody should insist on printing |
| practices. | | | | green. After all, we all owe it to the planet that we can |
| However, this is only half of what “eco-friendly | | | | call home in this vast universe. Sending all our printing |
| printing services” are really all about. The issue of | | | | jobs to certified green printers offering eco-friendly |
| conservation is no less important than the need to stop | | | | printing services can go a long way in helping conserve |
| polluting the environment. Eco-friendly printing is all | | | | the environment and ensure a greener tomorrow for |
| about a successful merging of the two. | | | | our children. |
| It is surprising to learn that the paper and printing | | | | |