Climate Friendly Print Design
Design in the era of 400 ppm (parts per million) of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere means that we are working against the clock to avoid a climate catastrophe. To create going forward means that we have to reduce our impact and also design to renourish what we took from our planet. It means not only improving ourselves, but also the air, water, and land – and then sustaining that progress. The Earth is as much a stakeholder in our design projects as our clients.
Let’s start with paper
The paper we mainly use comes from trees. Trees make wonderful paper, but they are more important to humanity in the ground. If you need paper for your project, there are more sustainable options than tree fiber. In general, sustainable paper should be:
- Made from indigenous non-wood sources when feasible (some bamboo, wheat straw, bagasse, hemp). Check out our side project Fresh Press for paper options as well!
- Composed of 100% PCW recycled fiber, but at least 30% PCW recycled minimum.
- Processed chlorine free (PCF).
- An uncoated paper stock.
- Certified Ancient Forest Friendly
- Manufactured using renewable energy. (If not directly powered by renewable energy, ask if the company uses a community solar provider.)
- Sourced and manufactured as close to the printing facility as possible.
♼ Get a full list of options on the Canopy Eco-Paper Database.
Ink is important too
While ink chemistry changes (sometimes dramatically) depending on press type, substrate, ink brand, and individual printer practices, this list can help you choose the best options for your next project.
- Less is more. The more ink on the page, the more difficult recycling can be. More ink means more waste for the printer to dispose of and more energy needed (both during printing and during recycling). More ink coverage also means more solvents needed on press.
- Choose a plant-based ink instead of petroleum (algae, linseed, cottonseed, tung, flaxseed, soybean, or other agriculturally-derived oils) in offset printing.
- Select an ink that emits VOC levels of 5% or less.
- Heavy metal is for music. Omit inks with heavy metal additives (found in most fluorescent and metallic inks).
- Source from local vendors.
- Choose an ink that requires only nontoxic solvents and additives for offset presses.
Speaking of printing
When selecting your printer, look for the following:
- A local printer within 100 miles of you (or better still, within 100 miles of where the final printed piece will be distributed).
- Certified by a legitimate third-party environmental group, like ISO. While it doesn’t provide a guarantee, legitimate certification can ensure your printer takes these issues seriously.
- Powered by a renewable energy source. (If not directly powered by renewable energy, ask if the company uses a community solar provider.)
- A formal environmental policy.
- A formal energy reduction policy.
- A formal waste reduction/recycling policy.
- A formal benefits program and regular safety training for their employees. A printer should respect their staff as much as they respect the environment.
- If the printer is willing to discuss the above policies with you. Environmentally-aware printers should be open to educating you about their processes, as well as willing to learn themselves.
Additional ways to green the printing process
- Consider using digital or waterless printing to reduce overall VOC emissions.
- Proof on screen as much as possible to reduce paper waste.
- Use makereadies, overruns, reclaimed materials, or other scrap paper as the base stock.