Myth vs. Fact – The Environmental Impact of Printing
7/31/2018
Let's Start A Conversation:
In an environmentally aware world, many business owners are looking for ways to provide more sustainable solutions to meet their customers’ needs.
To promote more eco-friendly practices, many businesses pledge to “save the trees” by reducing the use of paper and print materials. However, simply “going paperless” is not the perfect solution.
In honor of Earth Day, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common misconceptions about the environmental impact of printing.
MYTH: Printing leads to rapid deforestation.
FACT: Paper is a renewable resource, making it largely reusable, recyclable and biodegradable. It is the most recycled material in the world, with recovery rates ranging from 65 to almost 80 percent in North America, Western Europe and Japan, according to a fact sheet from Two Sides North America, an international nonprofit organization committed to promoting and enhancing sustainability in the graphic communications industry.
Sustainable forestry has been shown to have a positive impact on forestlands. In fact, tree growth is currently doubling the rate of annual tree removal, according to the 2016 Sustainability Report from the American Forest & Paper Association. Additionally, most commercial forests used to harvest trees for wood and paper are privately owned, which economically incentivizes landowners to maintain the land, and sustainably manage and renew the forestland, rather than sell or develop it.
MYTH: Printing inks are highly toxic and hazardous to the environment.
FACT: As a leader in the print industry, Allegra is among those to offer printing services that use low-impact inks and solvents, such as soy-based ink. Vegetable- and soy-based inks contain far fewer toxins than petroleum-based alternatives. Plus, these alternatives provide communicators and marketers with the same high-quality printed materials while releasing fewer chemicals into the air and soil, making it gentler to the environment.
MYTH: Printing on paper is wasteful.
FACT: If not managed properly, print communications can appear wasteful or expensive. Veteran direct mail marketers know, for instance, that they can reduce waste and costs by carefully targeting their mailings to those most likely to want what they are offering. List management is one of the most effective ways to maximize your print marketing impact and minimize time and expense.
The experts at American Speedy Printing can guide you to better choices in design and printing processes to determine the most sustainable and cost-effective solution for your needs. By working together, we can help save your organization time, money and resources while also minimizing your environmental impact.
When it comes to eco-friendly operations, is your business talking the talk or walking the walk? Contact American Speedy Printing to learn more about our print, marketing and design solutions that can help shrink your small business’ environmental footprint and add to your bottom line.
Happy Earth Day from the American Speedy Printing team!
Joe is passionate about helping SMBs. He’s spent the last 30+ years building the American Speedy Printing Marketing • Print • Mail brand – and sharing best practices and marketing trends with his customers. Through research, in-person visits and this blog, he hopes to engage with and empower local business owners and marketing professionals.
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