Need to source green printing company

liz545

Hello all! I work as an administrator for a team of graphic designers, and we're trying to increase the uptake of environmentally friendly printing options among our clients. The printing companies we currently use do offer recycled paper, but I haven't been able to find a company that use vegetable-based inks at a reasonable price. There must be printers who do a lot of work using 'green' inks, and can offer it at a good price - do any MSE'rs know or use a company like this? Preferably in the London/SE England area.
Thanks!

dotcouk

Try Cambrian Printers, "Print Everything Green" They print The Grren Parent and Green Kids and can be contacted at www.cambrian-printers.co.uk

Let us know how you get on.


dotcouk
Ecotivity.com
"promoting green and ethical consumerism"

ScoobieGirl

Friends of the Earth magazine had this in recently. It's new, so not completely comprehensive, but may help

http://www.twig.uk.com/

liz545

I've now spoken to a couple of printers from the Twig site, it seems there are a couple of accreditation levels they can get, so now I know what I have to be asking for! I'm going to encourage clients to consider recycled paper/vegetable or soya ink and avoid some of the more damaging finishes (like laminates) where possible. Some of the publications we design run into hundreds of thousands, so it will have a considerable impact on the environment! I'll let you know how I get on!

abisnail75

I only ever print with "green" in mind as I work for a company in the sector and we have to be seen to be leading the way.

I recommend NewNorth Print in Bedford (excellent prices and print lots of Government stuff too) and Belmont Press Northampton. Both are large litho printers with many years experience and good quality work and deliver all over.

Basic requirements for my print is ensuring the company has ISO 14001 as it the environmental standard and they have to improve annually. Shows committment by the printers to reduce their environmental impact.

Would also suggest visiting https://www.wrap.org for their recommendations on recycled paper. They recommend a minimum of 50% but I always use 80% recycled - usually Greencoat Velvet or Revive as they are excellent papers and you can't tell the difference. Vegetables inks are a must and linseed is apparently better as soya based inks are usually obtained from GM crops.

Hope this helps! Am quite passionate about this as you can tell...

Forgot to add - you can now get biodegradable gloss laminates which are fine but matt laminates are still a problem. However, I believe they are easily separated when they reach the recycling plant and waste is pelletised and used as soil improver (believe it or not!).

gingois

Hi

"a company that use vegetable-based inks at a reasonable price"

I work in a printing.com outlet and we pride ourselves on (a) trying to be as cost effective as possible and (b) being as low impact on the environment as we can

this includes using vegetable based inks, using either recycled stocks or paper from sustainable sources.

http://www.printing.com/au_environment.php

We're also involved with David Bellamy's Tree Appeal and we have set a target of planting 10,000 trees this year.

http://www.printing.com/au_treeappeal.php

On the money saving side of things, our price survey showed us to be up to 77% cheaper than the industry average, but with the added advantage of setprices (no waiting the average 3 days...) and guaranteed lead times.

hope this helps....

Liney_2

My hubby and I run a design agency so I think this is a really interesting thread with some useful links.