The pressure is on to adopt eco-friendly business practices. We’re living in a time of environmental uncertainty, now more than ever companies are expected to align their business strategies with sustainability. But for print-heavy marketing campaigns, how is that possible?
Here are some top tips to achieve sustainability in your marketing efforts:
1. Utilising printing practices
For the companies that cant go fully digital, it’s important to properly utilise the printing practices you currently have. One way of doing this is by printing on demand. This means using printing materials only when there is a demand for them, e.g. only fulfilling specific orders. Not only does this method minimise product waste but it also prevents unnecessary stockpiling. You may think you’re already adopting this practice but you could be surprised when you delve into the materials wasted daily. This practice of printing on demand stops any overproduction that would automatically fall to waste and reduces inventory to only what’s needed.
2. Sustainable ink
When looking to make your printing campaigns more sustainable, the most obvious choice is to swap out for eco-friendly alternatives. Though these actions feel small, they have a huge impact.
Ink seems like a very small cog in the system but there are alternatives to traditional ink which could greatly impact your carbon footprint. Soy based inks are the most popular swap, these are made from soybean oil and are biodegradable. There are also vegetable based inks which are typically non toxic and easily recyclable. Finally there are the lesser known UV Curable inks, these are energy efficient and typically solvent based. These inks tend to dry quickly when exposed to UV light. Each ink will benefit in different ways but it’s important to consider a change away from traditional inks as these contain damaging chemicals that can be released into the environment.
3. Eco friendly materials
Switching out your materials seems to be the most obvious solution but it shouldn’t be diminished in its importance. Something as simple as switching to recycled paper can make a huge difference. The production of traditional paper contributes to air, water and land pollution, so it’s critical to think about alternatives. As well as commonly used recycled paper, there are alternatives such as Bio-based and Tree-free papers. These are typically made from plant fibres such as hemp or bamboo and they produce a lower carbon footprint compared to tree based papers because they use less water for production.
4. Different printer types
As well as the materials we use, the printers are equally as important in the fight against climate change. Inkjet printers for example are usually seen as more environmentally friendly than laser, they use less energy during printing and typically contain cartridges that can be recycled. Digital presses such as digital offset are another option, these digital printing presses use less energy and also produce less waste compared to traditional print pressing. They encourage on-demand printing which discourages excess print and paper waste. Eco-Solvent printers are another alternative, they use eco-friendly inks and are usually used more for larger print jobs such as outdoor signs and banners. Finally what’s known as Energy Efficient printers, these typically consume less power during their operation and meet energy standard certifications. This is because they’re usually programmed to use sleep modes and automatic shutdown features when idle, this minimises energy consumption.
5. Thinking about waste
Whilst it may not feel like it, waste is one of the most important things to consider when looking to make a print campaign sustainable. Companies can adopt various practices to understand waste management and strive for lower emissions. Basic recycling programmes are a start, look at how you typically discard materials such as cardboard, ink, paper. Implement stricter rules around discarding of such materials or set up designated recycling areas. Consider your current strategies around the disposal of ink. Traditional ink can be extremely damaging to the environment if not disposed of properly. Organise correct storage of inks, cleaning materials and solvents to ensure they’re discarded efficiently. Even look into ink and printer cartridge recycling programmes in and around the country that could help you.
When making these eco-friendly swaps, think about where the energy inefficient equipment may go, are there recycling schemes that can help with this? You could also consider alternatives such as energy efficient LED lights, heating, air conditioning and ventilation.
Preparing for the future
We’re only just beginning to lift the lid on the environmental impacts of traditional printing practices. We know that an over reliance on paper can lead to deforestation, an excess amount of water and chemicals are used in this process and this can pollute our environment. We also know that improper management of waste can lead to landfill pollution. So adopting these practices is now more crucial than ever.
There are so many impactful and sustainable alternatives out there that could really change the game when it comes to print marketing campaigns. By thinking about sustainable swaps, you can encourage innovation and creativity and set yourselves apart from competitors. You don’t have to stop producing great print campaigns, it’s just about considering the impacts your company can make and experimenting with sustainable alternatives. You can start small, but the impacts will be mighty.
I hope these tips were helpful. At Raccoon, we’re passionate about printing and we want to help you produce great things. We believe there is still so much life in the printing business, we just want to help other marketers step into the future with sustainability and vision.
Your carbon footprint thanks you!
