REUSE! Because You Can't Recycle The Planet.

[StayVocal]

With the economy and the environment in the sad states they're in, I'd say it's about time that we all started to reuse over recycling. As the world's population is only growing, we need to take precaution not to bury ourselves in our own stuff.

By reusing, we are helping to preserve and protect our planet's precious resources. This is a top priority for every one of us.

Just by the simple task of reusing, you're making positive change. In fact, it's even better than recycling, because it's offering the benefit of having materials be reused, without the energy expended to recycle them into new products.

-Alex

 

[Al Ferrari]

Could you please give some examples of what we can reuse in printing?

 

[Cory Smith]

I agree..what specifically are you talking about?

 

[otherthoughts]

A guy I used to work with, once said "we cut down a bunch of trees, then make paper out of them, then print F-you on them and then throw them in the dumpster". I don't know if he was commenting on my skill as a pressman, or stating his viewpoint on printing as a whole?

For what it's worth.
otherthoughts

 

[annesgreat]

LOL, otherthoughts.

Re: reusing...

It's interesting that when we're little kids, we're taught the slogan 'reduce, reuse, recycle.' Recycling gets all the attention, but it's listed third because it's the least helpful of the three. Reducing consumption is the most beneficial, and there's plenty of areas to do that in our industry.
- Work with local suppliers to cut down the eco cost of shipping.
- Partner with other printers to direct customers to the printer closest to them so that shipping out the other way is as local as possible.
- Work with designers that know how to create elegant print while cutting down on ink and other materials.
- Go paperless around the office.
- Offsetters can gangrun to cut down on waste trim.
- Printers are also looking at renewable energy sources like wind power to cut their environmental footprints in the energy expenditure area.

Unfortunately, not a great economic climate for investing in green changes.

 

[Green Printer]

Reusing ink rollers, have old rollers reground for positions in ink train that require a smaller OD. Old blankets can be used for floor mats or door flaps for animals(dogs,cats,hogs and so on). Old computer power supplies can be used to power equipment where a power supply has failed. Old skids can reused for furniture. Nails removed from the skids can be reused. Many parts and pieces of metal can be saved and reused for future projects or repairs. This list just a small pittance of what can be done.

Always keep in mind that one mans trash can be another's treasure.

 

[Green Printer]

With the economy and the environment in the sad states they're in, I'd say it's about time that we all started to reuse over recycling. As the world's population is only growing, we need to take precaution not to bury ourselves in our own stuff.

By reusing, we are helping to preserve and protect our planet's precious resources. This is a top priority for every one of us.

Just by the simple task of reusing, you're making positive change. In fact, it's even better than recycling, because it's offering the benefit of having materials be reused, without the energy expended to recycle them into new products.

-Alex

What do you reuse?

 

[Internal_R&D_Analyst]

We can grow more trees,and do. Oil on the other hand can't be grown, atleast not at the present time.

I say print it, whatever it be.

 

[Craig]

There are 2 sides to the toilet paper as well, keep that in mind when wiping. You'll use half as much!

 

[Ink Tech]

We can grow more trees,and do. Oil on the other hand can't be grown, atleast not at the present time.

I say print it, whatever it be.

It is possible to work on intelligent use of oil AND wood at the same time I believe. We can't afford to be flippant on this topic anymore.

 

[Inky 1]

Printing Ink Waste

Printing Ink Waste

Having spent 30 years in the ink industry and 15 plus years in the pressroom doing tech service, the amount of old unused ink on printers shelves is astonishing. In the past (and sometimes present), ink companys used to take un-opened ink back and recycle it into good product. These days, the legality of needing MSDS on every product ties the inkmakers hands with any product other than their own. The printers need to take the initiative and start using product off their shelf whenever possible. Ink companys can supply databases for conversion from one PMS to another. Process inks can be used/worked off on jobs and paper that are more forgiving. An example: G-7 compliant/certified shops would need customers that do not require G-7 certification to use up old inventory that is not compliant. Right now, the majority of the industry that I see (commercial printing) is not G7 Certified. If anything, they are shooting for compliance without the expense of certification. But that is the exception to the rule. The majority of the printing companys are more than capable of using up inventory. Historically, they just don't. It's a shame because ink HAS to be incinerated before its final resting place which is an unnecessary expense. Ink that is used up in dry form can be recycled with the paper it's on with no additional expense to re-work it or incinerate it for landfill.