Printing processes generally discharge large quantities of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are dangerous for human beings as well as for the environment. It contaminates the soil, groundwater and the air around us. Petroleum based inks, dampening solution, varnishes and cleaning agents are all extensively used in the print industry which also comprises of solvents which give out VOCs.
United States and Europe have started a number of curriculums to support the agenda of recycling of ink cartridges. New York has implemented a recycling law for businesses and consumers regarding toner and ink cartridges. In California the Public Contract Code (PCC) section 12156[encourages businesses to purchase recycled ink and toner cartridges.
The list below outlines a few facts about toner/ink cartridges and the impact they have on the environment.
• GHGs (green house gases) emissions from manufacturing a single mono toner cartridge have been calculated to approximately 4.8 Kg CO2; per cartridge.
• Each year over 350 million cartridges are thrown out to landfills.
• By 2012, 500 million laser cartridges and 1.8 Billion ink cartridges will be dumped in landfills.
• Each cartridge becomes 3.5 pounds of solid waste sitting in a landfill and can take up to 450 to 1000 years to decompose. (Source: Wikipedia)
Because of the current hype about recycling there has been a demand for recycled printing, and because there is demand there is a market. When talking about recycled printing, we should not only consider recycled inks but also recycled papers. A vast majority of consumers are aware of recycled paper, and rates of paper recycling are rising all the time. The use of recycled paper has many advantages when compared to virgin paper. They are: recycled pare significantly reduces water consumption, air pollution, energy consumption and water pollution.
Instead of using conventional petroleum-based inks which contain high levels of solvent which when sent to landfill can leach into the water table, one can use vegetable-based inks. They have far better biodegradability and are renewable. An added benefit is that vegetable based inks are easier to de-ink in the recycling process. Similarly, experts recommend the use of aqueous varnishes and laminates, which, like vegetable-based inks, are more biodegradable, and contain far fewer VOCs. One must also use water-based aqueous coating to protect printed pieces. It provides a high-gloss surface that deters dirt and fingerprints and is friendlier to our environment than UV coatings.