Environmentally Responsible Printing
If you’re concerned about what your printing is doing to the environment, then you’ve come to the right place. We make it easy for you to be kind to the environment while still delivering the highest quality printing possible. Here at Print Mint we choose to use environmentally responsible products and methods where possible throughout the printing process. We can always offer an alternative environmentally friendly solution for all your printing needs.
Eco-friendly paper choices
Panda - symbol of the eco-friendly cause
By choosing papers that are environmentally sound, you can enjoy the many benefits of using print and paper, while keeping your environmental footprint to a minimum. We offer a full range of eco-friendly paper which are all ISO14001 compliant .
To assist with your environmental paper choices we have divided them into four main categories:
- Recycled Content – ranging from 25-100%
- Environmental Certification – Products that indicate superior levels of practice, including forest certification systems such as PSC & PEFC and highly regarded environmental labels such as Nordic Swan, Green Seal and EU Eco Label
- Renewable Energy – Products that are manufactured by a mill that obtains a significant proportion of its energy requirements from renewable energy sources, such as hydro, wind, solar or biomass
- Carbon Neutral – Products are certified as being manufactured Carbon Neutral
Are you concerned about the effect caused by petroleum-based inks and the air pollution associate with their useage, The problem with petroleum based ink is that the petrol and alcohol content evaporates in the drying process, releasing up to 30% VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds – see below) into the atmosphere. Solvents are also required to clean the press after use – and solvents are another source of VOCs. Petroleum based ink is also harder to de-ink when being recycled, which results in toxic waste.
Vegetable-based Inks
There are other solutions such as environmentally friendly vegetable-based inks.
The base liquid for this ink is made from a variety of vegetable oils such as corn, walnut, coconut, linseed, canola and soy bean. Vegetable based ink takes longer to dry but, as a result, releases only around 2-4% VOCs into the atmosphere. Vegetable oils are a renewable resource, unlike petroleum. Solvents are not required for cleaning, as the press can be cleaned with a water based cleaner, reducing VOCs further. Vegetable based ink is also much easier to de-ink when recycling and results in much less hazardous waste.
Vegetable-based inks should be used instead of petroleum based ink. By using vegetable based ink, solvent based cleaners can be replaced with water based cleaners to clean the press, reducing VOC emissions.
Green Energy
Here at Print Mint we use TruEnergy Green Energy where an amount of energy from renewable sources is then returned to the community power grid on our behalf. We are always looking at better ways to save energy and reduce costs for us and you.
Waste Management
Print Mint recycle or re-use all items resulting from the print process including paper off-cuts, pallets, plastics, ink containers, ink cartridges etc. Print Mint use the services of SA Cardboard & Paper Pty Ltd who recycle all our off-cuts of paper and cardboard. Print Mint also use a waste management company to ensure the cleanest methods of disposing of items that can not be reused or recycled.
