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There is a growing momentum behind the trend of switching to environmentally friendly business practices. For decades, "going green" has been a metaphor for "government regulation" in the business world, and in many industries, the only way to coerce some companies into adopting environmentally friendly business practices has been through federally mandated incentives and penalties. Companies across many industries are now discovering that green products and practices can open new opportunities and markets.
In the printing industry of today, going green has less to do with government regulations, and much more to do with becoming more competitive in an increasingly tough marketplace. For printers, going green is a competitive opportunity—reducing chemistry costs, increasing overall profits, and providing a way to differentiate their businesses.
The printing industry provides an excellent example of how environmentally friendly products are advantageous—a statement particularly true in the adoption of chemistry-free printing solutions. Printers incorporating these technologies into their shops are gaining a competitive edge through cost reductions, improvements in quality and productivity, increased profitability, and access to new and growing markets. In short, today's environmentally sustainable printing solutions are making printing businesses more capable, profitable, and competitive.
There are numerous benefits to switching to chemistry-free platemaking, some more obvious than others. Becoming an environmentally friendly printer is not about jumping on the green bandwagon, but instead is a sound business strategy. The following seven immutable benefits reflect the success businesses can reap by adopting environmentally friendly printing practices.
Reduce Costs
Eliminating the chemistry involved in platemaking is instrumental in moving toward the goal of environmentally friendly printing; however, it is also the key to reducing costs. Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 31 million gallons of chemistry are used in imaging printing plates every year, and chemistry can account for as much as 30 percent of the expense of an imaged plate, while hidden costs can make that percentage much higher. These often-overlooked costs include processor maintenance, floor space, and process control labor expenses.
Increase Productivity
In addition to appealing to environmental responsibility concerns, customers' business objectives are best met through chemistry-free imaging. The chemistry-free platemaking process delivers higher overall consistency by means of a more predictable process that reduces platemaking variables caused by chemistry-based plate processing.
Some digital, chemistry-free platemaking uses a thermal process where the heat from the lasers image the plates, eliminating the steps in the workflow required by photo-lithographic plates developed with chemistry. True chemistry-free CTP systems require a simple water wash after imaging, eliminating time-consuming processes involved in traditional platemaking, including: baking, image processing, and gumming.
Direct imaging digital offset solutions take this process a step further by automating a range of press functions, including on-press platemaking. These highly automated presses require less operator time to run and maintain, reducing labor costs and freeing up the press and prepress workers' time. They also enable less skilled operators to produce superior quality printing, creating more efficiencies and business benefits for the printers that adopt these technologies.
In addition, some of these Dis are waterless sheetfed offset presses, which further advances their ability to deliver environmentally friendly and cost-effective, quick turnaround, high-quality color printing.
Reduce VOCs
Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions have been linked to the breakdown of the Earth's ozone layer, contributing to global warming. The waterless DI press design eliminates what is typically the largest portion of a printer's VOC output—solvent-based press and blanket wash solutions. These benefits—combined with chemistry-free thermal imaging and automated ink cleaning functions—reduce VOC output by up to 90 percent.
Increased Use of Floor Space
Digital offset presses integrate advanced platemaking and printing within a compact footprint. The size economies of DI presses offer more efficient use of floor space.
Also, printing on demand will save storage space. No longer do print buyers need to order quantities of more than 10,000 to get a price break. The DI press offers cost effective color printing in run lengths of 250 to 10,000 impressions. This allows print buyers to order the exact quantity they require for a project, dramatically reducing the floor space required for inventories of printed material—which also saves on the waste associated with the disposal of any unused pieces. DI presses and chemistry-free CTP systems also eliminate the need for chemical storage space. All of these efficiencies help reduce the footprint needed for printing, passing along cost savings and increasing the capabilities of printers.
Conserve Water
Conventional offset printing requires water for plate processing, and for the press dampening system. Waterless presses do not use water. The chemically tainted waste water from conventional offset printing is eliminated.
The August 2006 United Nations "Water Thematic Issues" report, "Coping with the Scarcity of Water," speaks to the importance of maintaining and preserving our water supply, and projects that 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with scarcity by 2025 if the water use continues at its current rate.
Reduce Paper Waste
Some owners of digital offset presses that incorporate chemistry-free platemaking report 90 percent reductions in makeready waste—down to as few as 25 sheets from 250. Additional paper waste reduction is achieved through control over major variables in the printing process, including ink/water balance and sheet transfer.
According to the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation report "Navigating Print Markets in 2007–2008," the cost of paper can account for 22 percent of a printer's sales revenue. Reducing paper waste has an immediate positive effect on the profitability of a printing company.
New Markets and Customers
By employing chemistry-free processes—CTP and DI—printers can address buyers' environmental concerns and mandates. Environmentally conscious customers will be more likely do to business with green print businesses. Print service providers who print with waterless DI presses can further differentiate themselves in the market, not only with high-quality color, a wide range of substrate options, fast turnaround times, and cost efficiencies—but also by being able to offer environmentally friendly printing services.
Printers worldwide are reaping these immutable benefits through the incorporation of environmentally friendly printing practices. By going green, they are increasing their own revenue and profits, showing that saving the environment and saving costs are not mutually exclusive.
Brian Wolfenden has 25 years of experience in the printing industry. He is currently director of marketing communications at Presstek, a leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing solutions.
author: By Brian Wolfenden