Environmentally Friendly Printing - A Few Useful Things to Know

Alcohol-free or low-alcohol printing
Lithographic printing that uses reduced amounts or no isopropyl alcohol (IPA), thereby reducing VOC emissions.

Dampening (or fountain) solution
This is used to keep the non-image areas of the plate moist, preventing them from accepting ink. Dampening solution usually contains high levels of a solvent called isopropyl alcohol (IPA) which contributes to VOC emissions. Some are available with a low IPA content or are IPA free.


Waterless printing eliminates the need for dampening solution altogether.


Heavy metals
Heavy metals are natural components of the Earth's crust. They cannot be degraded or destroyed. Tiny amounts are essential for human health, but at higher concentrations they can lead to poisoning.

Heavy metals may enter the body in food, water, air, or by absorption through the skin.


Heavy metals such as barium, copper and zinc are contained in certain ink pigments, particularly metallics. Studies have linked the use of heavy metals in some inks to an increased risk of printers developing bladder cancer.


IPA (Isopropyl alcohol)
Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used as a cleaner and solvent in industry. Lithographic printers combine it with water to create 'dampening solution' which repels the ink in non-image areas.


IPA contributes to ground level ozone which can effect plant and crop growth and poses a potential health hazard to printers as it can lead to, amongst other things, asthma.


Mineral oil based inks (also known as petroleum based inks)
These are the most commonly used inks not least because of their quick drying time. The pigment is suspended in petroleum with Isopropyl alcohol as the solvent (see above). As the ink dries, alcohol and petroleum evaporate, releasing VOCs.


Added to this ' petroleum is a non-renewable resource.


Solvents
A solvent is a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances. Solvents used in the lithographic print process include:


mineral oil which is used to reduce the viscosity of ink
Isopropyl alcohol (also referred to as IPA, see definition above) which is toxic to aquatic life
Toluene which is used in cleaning solutions and contributes to the formation of ozone
Methyl Ethyl Ketone which is used as a solvent for lacquers, adhesives and inks and is also toxic to aquatic life

Vegetable based ink
Vegetable based inks can be made from a variety of vegetable oils including soy-bean, corn, and linseed oils. Replacing mineral oil with vegetable oil means that you can reduce or even cut out VOC emissions.


Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
These are carbon-containing gases and vapors that are released from solvents used during the printing process.


The most significant environmental impact of VOCs is their formation with vehicle exhaust to form photochemical smog. However, in liquid form VOCs can effect water and soil quality.


They also have an effect on the health of pressroom workers and have been linked to breathing difficulties, liver and kidney damage.


Waterless printing
Waterless printing is basically sheet-fed litho printing using different printing plates and a method of transferring the image to the paper without using water.


Removing water from the process means that you also eliminate the problem of achieving the correct balance of ink and water on press. It also eliminates the need for IPA (see above).






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