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The printing process has traditionally involved the use of many hazardous chemicals. Many of these substances which are used in the preparation of printing plates, as an integral part of the offset printing process, and in the cleanup of printing equipment, present significant health, safety and environmental risks. Highly alkaline and heavy metal-ladened photo chemicals, isopropyl alcohol, and petroleum-based solvents with high VOC contents and carcinogenic ingredients are normally used and subsequently disposed of as by-products of the offset printing process.
Recent technology has created new opportunities for the environmentally aware printer to substantially reduce the adverse impacts, or entirely eliminate the use of many of these hazardous materials. New photo-direct platemakers use significantly less photo chemicals by eliminating several intermediate steps in the traditional plate making process. Instead of pouring spent chemicals down the drain, they should be properly disposed of by EPA-licensed, hazardous waste disposal companies.
There are relatively inexpensive alternatives to the use of isopropyl alcohol and alcohol substitutes during the printing process. New, low-VOC, water-miscible solvents require a little more time and effort during press cleanup, but the payoff is dramatically reduced VOC emissions. While many tradition-bound printers fight or ignore hazardous waste regulations, environmentally sensitive printers welcome new state and federal hazardous waste regulations because they know that the resulting new products from the chemical industry will be less harmful to the printers themselves and the environment that we all must share.
TWhile many of these choices are made for you by the graphic designer and
the printer, there are a number of things which you can do to
lessen the impact that your project will have on the environment and on your budget. |
Contact: info@ecographics.com
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