Environmental responsibility – What's that?
We would like to thank Severnprint for supplying us with this information.
Reducing the environmental impact of your print.
All businesses need print of some form, from letterheads and business cards to full colour brochures. Working sustainably is vital - that is, working in a way that won't damage the world's resources for future generations. Particularly with such considerations as the climate change levy, the environment is now a mainstream business concern; and the good news is that improved environmental practices often reduce your costs.
SIMPLE STEPS TO EVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE PRINT
The first step in reducing your print's environmental impact is to do some good groundwork: hand over a job to your printer or designer only when you've done as much preparation as possible. Crucially, if your job requires input from colleagues, seek it at the earliest stages and be clear about who will have the final sign-off. As well as saving physical resources, good preparation will also save you time and money in the long run.
2 Think digitally
Thanks to the wider availability of technology, most businesses now have access to a range of software and equipment that can improve timescales, efficiency and environmental practices.
Make use of the technology you have, such as typing up text and saving it to disk instead of handing your designer a pile of written notes (check with them about formats) – this process also makes it a lot easier to correct your ideas as you plan. Email is another bonus using minimal resources – use it to send text or even to send files where appropriate.
Also consider technology you may not already have, such as ISDN. This is a telephone line service that allows you (or your printer or designer) to send documents directly to one another where the file is too big to email. Even if you do not have an ISDN line yourself, most towns have at least one business that offers use of their line to others.
3 Minimal corrections
This is when your groundwork pays off. When you receive proofs from the printer, you will ideally already have gone through the process of gaining everyone's input and comments, so the proof will simply be there to check that everything looks as it should, and to check small details like spelling.
Once a job reaches the pre-press stage, every change requires extra resources such as electricity, proof material and even transport. For these environmental reasons, it's best to avoid changes and amends – and as printers need to charge for their time, fewer amends will also mean lower charges for you
4 Think recycled and sustainable
Using recycled paper is an obvious step to improve your print environmentally, and there is a vast choice available in all finishes and shades. Some recycled papers do present the old problems of looking a bit grainy or reducing the quality of the print, but many are now so sophisticated they look like new papers.
If a suitable recycled is not available, opt for paper from sustainably managed forests where trees are grown specifically to be used for paper, and are continuously replaced.
You may want to extend the recycled aspect to include the envelopes or folders you use for your items, and even how you dispose of the paper when you've finished.
5 What your printer can do
In print technology, recent advances have drastically reduced resource use. For example, it used to be that printers had to create films in order to make plates, but some printers can now produce plates directly from their digital workflow. This is 'computer-to-plate' technology (CTP) and as it bypasses the need for film, so it reduces waste.
Even more recently, customers have been able to make us of 'PDF files' as part of the print process. Currently, PDF (Portable Document Format) files are used mostly as a proofing method: the working document is effectively captured and 'sealed' so that the item can be viewed on a PC even if it were created on an AppleMac. PDFs have many additional benefits but also limitations, so do consult with your printer before trying this route.
6 Waste management - paper, chemicals and inks
Paper is not the only waste produced in print. As well as finding better ways to dispose of waste paper, a committed printer can hugely reduce landfill by improving disposal of ink tins, pallets, printing plates, and even the alcohol and chemicals used in the printing process.
7 Energy use
Energy is one of the largest resources used in print, so has your print supplier taken steps to reduce energy consumption? It's also a financial point, as efficient energy use reduces their Climate Change Levy and therefore general overheads – which should improve your price.
Printers with a particular concern for the environment may be powered by renewable energy. If they are, then 'Printer using renewable energy' can be a valuable message to add to your literature and can make a positive impression on your own clients.
8 Transport Management
Each print job potentially incurs a great deal of transport: picking up the job, dropping off and collecting proofs and then final deliveries. Your printer may already combine journeys for efficiency, but you can help by sending jobs via post or ISDN, or by giving proof amendments via fax, phone or email and posting back your proofs before the job prints.
Finally bear in mind that the majority of excessive transport use comes from tight deadlines: giving an extra day can really help environmentally.
For more information on environmentally responsible production go to www.severnprint.co.uk
