Print vs Digital: Revisiting Sustainability
In today’s digital-dominated world, the sustainability of print often gets overlooked or unfairly labelled as unsustainable. However, there’s more to this story. People are led to believe that paper equals deforestation and waste, while screens are clean and green.
Surprisingly print still shines through as an eco-friendly industry with a far smaller carbon footprint than you might think.
We’re keen to spread the ‘sustainable print’ message far and wide, and highlight some of the surprising elements that make print products renewable, recyclable and sustainable.
Sustainability in Print
Paper, derived from trees, is a renewable resource. Unlike the complex components of digital devices, paper products can be replenished and regrown. Even better, advancements like the use of vegetable-based inks and greener transportation options contribute to reducing the environmental impact.
Recycling
Recycling plays a crucial role too. Paper ranks among the most recycled materials globally, with impressive rates in Europe highlighting its sustainability. While paper fibres have a limit to how many times they can be recycled, the industry continually innovates to maximise their lifespan.
Embrace Advances
Advances in printing technology, like the rise of digital printers, have transformed the industry landscape. This plate-less printing method reduces power usage and ink waste whilst enabling us to do the same job but in a quicker, more cost-effective and, most importantly, greener manner.
Technological advances have also transformed printing. Digital printing, for instance, minimises energy use and ink waste while offering quicker, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solutions. Gone are the days of excessive print runs leading to wasted documents. Innovations like Web2Print now enable companies to print on demand, drastically cutting down on waste and emissions.
Carbon Footprint
Contrary to popular belief, digital communications also leave a significant carbon footprint. From server energy consumption to electronic waste, the environmental impact of digital solutions is substantial. The energy used to power servers, transmit data and manufacture devices all adds up and very little of it is recyclable. We are facing a colossal electronic waste issue with the IT industry accounting for 5-9% of electricity use, which is more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions (as much as all air traffic). By contrast, the pulp, print and paper industry accounts for 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making the sector one of the lowest industrial emitters.
The Importance of Offsetting
We know that we can’t stamp out our carbon footprint entirely. What we can do, however, is offset it. We work with the World Land Trust via its ‘Carbon Balanced’ and ‘Plant a Tree’ programmes to offset unavoidable emissions by supporting their efforts to protect carbon-rich habitats and enable the reforestation of previously lost areas.
Choosing a sustainable print partner means embracing eco-friendly technologies and responsible practices that align with your company’s values and sustainability goals.
If you’re seeking an innovative, eco-conscious print partner, we’re here to help you make a greener choice.