In this day and age, incorporating environmentally friendly practices into our everyday lives is more important than ever before. Sustainable print-on-demand is a simple and cost-effective strategy that helps us take care of the planet while also making sense from a business standpoint.
Understanding the goals and techniques involved in print-on-demand can help you decide whether or not this method is for you. Therefore, in this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide to sustainable print-on-demand practices, including how it works, which print materials can help you reduce your environmental footprint, and how you can develop sustainable business practices as a whole.
What is the Most Sustainable Printing Method?
Different printing methods are sustainable in different ways. Therefore, understanding sustainability in printing takes a variety of factors into account.
Overall, sustainable printing means printing in a way that treats our planet well. This includes reducing energy use and waste production, as well as avoiding harmful chemicals that have historically been used in the printing process. Some of the most sustainable practices include using non-toxic chemicals, eco-friendly inks, biodegradable toner, and post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled paper.
Printing is a foundational aspect for all types of businesses and organizations. The printing industry has a global value of over $400 billion and huge numbers of products are being printed every single day, so switching to environmentally friendly printing practices makes a difference.
Inside Look at an Ethical Printing Process
At The Print Authority, we pride ourselves on our eco-friendly printing. Through the decades, we’ve chosen to put our planet first throughout all stages of the printing process.
Most importantly, we have opted to use 100% renewable energy sources in our facilities, and we offer convenient and affordable on-demand printing that reduces waste both in the printing process and for our consumers. Our digital presses use low amounts of power, which decreases operational costs—and therefore printing costs for our customers—and is good for the environment. As well, printing on demand provides up-to-date materials and reduces obsolescence, so fewer materials need to be recycled.
We use soy ink, which both provides more accurate colors and is biodegradable, and our offset plates are “chemistry-free,” which means that they only produce non-toxic byproducts. We also recycle 100% of our printing plates for a more sustainable future.
We offer a wide range of PCW papers, which makes it easy to choose an environmentally friendly paper option. From top to bottom, we’ve adapted our processes and our machinery in order to help you take care of the earth through printing.
Eco-Friendly Materials for Print-on-Demand
Environmentally friendly printing means being intentional about the organic materials you use throughout the printing process. When you opt for print on demand with a professional printing company, you get to choose which print products you prefer from their wide selection. Here are some of the best eco-friendly materials that you can opt for.
- Post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled papers. PCW paper is a foundation of environmentally friendly printing and can consist of anywhere from 10% to 100% PCW. This gives you the flexibility to choose the best paper for your project, keeping both the paper’s look and feel as well as your environmental goals in mind.
- Alternative paper materials. Paper doesn’t just come from trees. Some of the most sustainable papers are made of materials such as hemp, straw, and recycled organic cotton. Using these papers demonstrates that you’re willing to go above and beyond to protect the environment.
- Natural inks. Opting for natural inks, such as vegetable or soy inks, is kind to the environment. These are sustainable products compared to petroleum-based inks and are also easy to remove so that the paper can be recycled.
Ask your printing partner about their sustainable print-on-demand options. They can help you choose the right materials for your project.
Tips for Reducing Environmental Impact in Business
Taking steps to make your business more environmentally friendly is a rewarding process. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Tip 1: Recycle
We all know the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle.” For now, let’s focus on that last word.
Recycling is one of the most important ways that we can reduce waste that goes to landfills. Optimizing your organization to increase recycling rates is a simple and effective step that helps our planet.
While paper is already a commonly recycled item in a business context, be sure to make it easy to recycle as many items as possible. Find out which materials can be recycled in your city, and place clearly labeled bins prominently in your offices so that employees and clients can easily recycle as much as possible.
As we’ve discussed above, an important aspect of recycling is using recycled paper for your printing. Opting for PCW papers is a simple choice that makes a big difference for our planet and demonstrates your dedication to the environment.
Tip 2: Utilize Marketing Collateral Strategically
Let’s go back to the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” for a moment, as the phrase’s first two words are also worth a closer look. When you reduce the amount of materials that you use, there is less that needs to be recycled at all.
Think about which products you need and how many copies you truly need to order. Ordering the right amount of materials will reduce both waste and printing costs. As well, when you’re able to reuse materials, you get a higher return on investment per material created.
With this phrase in mind, think deeply about your marketing strategy and collateral on the front end. Know how you plan to use every item you plan to print, and consider how you can maximize your ROI. This might mean opting for a thicker paper so that brochures hold up longer, or it might mean choosing to send targeted mailings so that you send marketing materials only to households you think will be receptive to them.
Tip 3: Don’t Ignore Digital Marketing
While print marketing is the foundation of an effective marketing strategy, think about how digital marketing can help you as well. Digital marketing can give your business a boost at a low cost to the environment. Here are some digital marketing ideas to include in your strategy:
- Google Business Profile. Your Google Business Profile is a primary source of information about your business, including your location, opening hours, website, photographs of your business, and reviews. When you focus on promoting your Google Business Profile, you ensure that people who find your business online get a good impression and feel inspired to take action.
- Search engine optimization (SEO). These days, virtually everyone uses search platforms such as Google to find information, place orders, and learn about new businesses. Building an SEO strategy, which includes regularly adding informative content to your website, including high-traffic keywords and linking to other informative pages, increases the chances that people will find your website on Google. This boosts online engagement and creates new leads.
- Email campaigns. When you have something to say, say it! Send email newsletters that let subscribers know about special deals, new products, and limited-time offers.
- Active social media presence. Most people are on social media these days. Maintain an active social media presence in which you post regularly and respond to comments and questions. Being active on social media demonstrates your dedication to communicating with customers.
By developing a comprehensive digital marketing campaign to complement your print marketing, you’re able to reach your target audience through a variety of media and in an environmentally friendly way.
Tip 4: Partner with Sustainable Brands & Suppliers
Being dedicated to the environment is the first step. The next step is working with partners and suppliers who share this dedication and are motivated to work with you towards your sustainability goals.
As you’re looking for eco-friendly suppliers, you can take a range of topics into consideration. Do they use sustainable materials to produce eco-friendly products? Do they focus on sustainable processes? Are they making choices that put the planet first? Feel free to ask any potential suppliers about their environmental practices so you can make sure you’re on the same page on the front end of your partnership.
Print on Demand Sustainably
Making the transition to sustainable print on demand is an important step, both for your budget and for our planet. Here at The Print Authority, we offer eco-friendly alternatives, sustainable printing methods, and support that make this transition easy.
Since 1991, we have been leaders in environmentally friendly printing practices. Our focus on eco-friendly print methods and materials makes us a leader in the printing world, and we specialize in helping businesses reach their goals through full-service, environmentally friendly print-on-demand services. We also offer custom web-to-print portals that make ordering on-demand easy.
Contact The Print Authority to learn more about the benefits of incorporating sustainable print-on-demand into your business!
