When thinking about eco friendly print and signage, it can be easy to focus on the substrate. Obviously, making sure the material you print on is environmentally friendly is hugely important but what are the green credentials of the inks your supplier uses? It’s an often overlooked area of the print industry, so we wanted to give you a bit more information on the inks used in the dye sublimation print process.
What are the different types of ink available?
Sublimation printing delivers vivid, colourful results but it differs from UV printing and latex printing in the process and the inks required. Sublimation inks differ from other types as they are made from dye particles. These inks are then ground up and placed into a liquid solution that can carry them without dissolving them. You can then choose from a water based sublimation ink or a solvent based one.
The problem with non-water based inks?
It’s important you discuss with your supplier what type of inks they’re using in their printing process. Depending on their type of printer, they could be using solvent inks. Solvent inks are oil based, meaning they contain a number of chemical stabilisers to allow the ink to flow through the print heads. Because of these chemicals solvent inks emit high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). .
What are VOCs?
VOCs are organic compounds that can cause atmospheric photochemical reactions. The Environmental Protection Agency states "Many VOCs are found in emissions from burning coal, oil and gasoline, and in solvent based inks. VOCs are of special concern because they photo-chemically react (in sunlight) to cause ozone or smog". These means the inks or fabrics printed with the ink cannot be safely burned.
Our guarantee on water based inks
All of the inks we use, both dye sublimation and UV, emit zero VOCs. Water-based inks don’t contain heavy metals or lead, and importantly they have no chemicals like CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) or other solvents in them, which could emit VOCs. This means when you buy a product like our EnviroFlag™ eco friendly flag material, you can be confident that not only are you purchasing a 100% recycled material but it will be inks that cause no damage to the environment too!
To find out more about the inks we use, EnviroFlag™ or any of our other eco friendly print products just get in touch on 0113 205 5189 or info@northernflags.com!