Climate change, felt all over the world, has reinforced the warning that preserving the planet requires immediate action. If choosing eco-friendly products was once seen as a fad, nowadays it’s a proactive attitude towards everyone’s future.
Many companies have already started to make their mark, not only through the way they develop and manufacture their products, but also in the way they communicate with their public. A strong attitude that distinguishes those who follow mere trends from those who stand out for the best reasons.
In this article we share five tips, based on our experience in the large format digital printing market, for producing and communicating in a more sustainable way.
1.
Overcome the myths of price and quality
The first step is to overcome the myths associated with ecological products and the best known is related to the price of materials. When they first appeared, these products had higher prices than conventional ones, however, you can now find solutions with very affordable prices and decal® is an excellent example of this.
Another recurring myth is that the quality of the materials is inferior and the results fall short of expectations. Once again, our reality in the market proves that ecological options are developed with high quality and the results are just as satisfactory as those obtained using the “usual” materials.
2.
Adapt to new production processes
The focus on sustainability has led to significant changes in production processes in order to move towards a circular economy. At decal® we also value coordinated production and consumption systems with the aim of reducing, reusing, recovering and recycling instead of the usual extract, produce and discard.
Technology has responded to this challenge with constant innovation. In the case of large format digital printing, it has led to the emergence of more efficient equipment in terms of print speed, energy efficiency, waste reduction and agility with increasing automation, digitization and interconnectivity.
3.
Choose ecologically responsible sources
Raw materials underpin the entire production process and there are countless ways to ensure that they come from ecologically responsible sources. For our part, we are aware that opting for these sources strengthens the sustainability of production, as well as customer confidence.
Examples of this are the certifications awarded by the FSC – Forest Stewardship Council association, which promotes good forest management practices, and by the ISEGA – Industrie-Studien Und Entsorgungsgesellschaft GmbH institute, which tests materials such as paper, cardboard and plastics.
4.
Use less harmful consumables
Regardless of the market segment, large format digital printing jobs need inks and materials. The offer of solutions that are less harmful to the environment has been strengthened and, in the case of inks, solvents should be relegated to the background by eco-solvents, water-based, latex and UV.
As for materials, all the components of the final product must be considered. The various decal® ranges, for example, include PP (polypropylene) films, produced without plasticizers, UV and water-based adhesives, which emit fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and PE liner, whose moisture protection reduces waste.
5.
Transmit “green” messages
Companies may manufacture greener products, but they often forget an equally important factor: communication. The way they communicate must also be made with sustainable materials, i.e. it’s not enough for the message to be “green”, it must also be conveyed in a “green” way.
The impact of visual communication campaigns is greater if customers are aware that the applications contribute to reducing environmental impact. It is with this in mind that we manufacture self-adhesive products for various types of actions. In this way, we ensure that the message is positive at all levels.
Be part of the new era
There are certainly many steps to go before the road to sustainability is fully covered. However, we have entered a new era in which attitudes have already changed the way many companies produce and communicate.
Do you want to be part of this group?
Discover our PVC Free range, with products for printing and lamination, and get quality work that contributes to the planet’s quality of life.
