Green Printing: Perception vs. Reality and the UV Edge

Corporate America has continued to follow the impetus of the rest of the developed world in committing to operate “green,” buy “green” and simply be “green.” Perhaps surprising to some printers, many corporate print buyers raise an eyebrow as they scrutinize their printer(s) and many of the printed products they purchase.

Corporations, and even many consumers, perceive that too many trees are being sacrificed on the altar of printing, select printing processes are more green than others, and believe the Internet is the epitome of being green when it comes to the dissemination of graphics information and documents.

The reality is just the opposite. And printers, their suppliers and their trade associations need to beat their educational drums and market the facts of how environmentally friendly the printing industry is. Printers can and should do a better job of informing their corporate client partners of how “green” their printing and packaging is. This, in turn, helps these corporate entities to stand taller in their own media messaging and advertising to the ultimate consumers of their high-profile eco-friendly stature.

This article will highlight the eco-friendly advancements made in only one segment of the printing industry. And this segment, considered to be among the highest print quality processes, is “greener” than it has ever been. Rich, vibrant colors and sparkling gloss that appeals to high-end label and packaging clients, is the standard genre for ultraviolet (UV) printing. In addition, UV opens up a new world of substrates, from plastics (lenticular, static cling vinyl) and foil to specialty grades and board.

UV has established itself in Europe as a mainstream printing process, which holds true across a broad range of sectors, even newspapers. It is seen as guaranteeing higher print quality without having to compromise health and safety rules for the equipment operators.