wtorek, 13 listopada 2012

Insist On Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Madeline Finch


As global warming becomes more of a problem for the earth, it has become necessary to find alternative methods of producing and manufacturing goods for consumers. One method which lately has become less of a problem to the environment is digital printing that is eco friendly. This technology uses methods to make ink and paper which is both, recyclable and harmless to the environment.

In the 1970s the price of petroleum was beginning to increase and the Newspaper Association of America decided to start experimenting with other ways to make ink. They worked with other soluble substances such as water and vegetable oils. The wonders of soybean oil was then uncovered. This became an effective substance when making ink.

Soybean ink helps the paper recycling process because it can be removed more easily than inks based in petroleum. It has been found that when using soybean oil, fewer pigments are needed to get the same effect of the normal petroleum based ink. This means it costs less to make than other types of ink.

Paper when processed in chlorine-free chemicals is 100% biodegradable and can be recycled. In place of chlorine chemicals, virgin pulp from trees is used to break down all their paper. When using petroleum based ink, the fibres in this paper are more susceptible to damage than when using natural based inks. The process of paper recycling is when used paper is put through a mixture of chemicals and water and heat to break it down into a pulp.

The paper is strained through screens to remove plastic or glue and once this is done, it is de-inked, cleaned and bleached. It can then be made into new paper. Of course in the process of recycling paper, less energy is used and the processing of it is less expensive than making new paper. It's a completely win/win situation.

The de-inking procedure is when paper is washed to remove the ink. If all the ink is not removed the paper is reduced to a pulp, the finished product will have a grey tinge to it. So, in order to make paper which is white and can be used again, the paper is washed to soften the ink. Special soaps are used, which create foam capable of removing the ink. Bleaching the paper with Hydrogen peroxide is used so it is white.

Here comes the kicker, the used ink is skimmed off this paper and is burned to make energy to run that paper mill so less coal based energy is used. This will bring down the costs of running the mill. It can also be a source of income when sold to people who make gravel and asphalt for road works.

The energy of the burned ink and windmills is used in the production of recycled paper uses less electrical energy. There is new technology which is being discovered every day and it is less harmful to the environment and as the consciousness of the environment builds, so does the invention of new environmentally friendly technology is developed. Digital printing that is eco friendly when using recycled paper and soy ink is just one of the new "green" methods.




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