So you want to have a batch of marketing materials printed but are concerned that the printer that you choose may not be implementing green printing practices. No worries, as there are a lot of printing Los Angeles companies that do their part in reducing waste and saving trees. You just have to exert some effort, as some printing companies do not break out the soy-based inks and recycled paper unless a customer asks. It’s up to you if you want to go for an all-out eco-friendly printing Los Angeles company or stick with your friendly neighborhood printer, never forgetting that you have to specifically request soy-based or vegetable-based inks, different grades of environmental paper, and 100 percent non-toxic toner for digital printers to be used on your printing projects.
Greening your in-house printing processes
Now if you decide to not outsource your printing requirements to a printing Los Angeles company, it would not be a problem if you are already implementing green printing tactics in relation to your in-house printing processes. Such tactics include:
• Stocking up on chlorine-free paper with post-consumer fiber and low-polluting or recycled ink
• Using both sides of each sheet of paper and avoiding non-standard sizes for your printing projects
• Investing on a printer that utilizes a waterless printing system and minimizing the use of varnishes and other coatings that prevents you from recycling the papers used for printing job
• Making sure that you leave the papers used for a particular printing job recyclable by avoiding binding adhesives, foils, and plastic bags that are typically used during the finishing or packaging stages
• Publishing your documents online whenever possible; remember that the greenest printing practice that you can adopt involves not using any paper at all.
Questions to ask your printing Los Angeles partner
Aside from asking for soy-based or vegetable-based inks, non-toxic toner, and recyclable paper to be used for your printing projects, you may also ask your printing Los Angeles partner if they have a green printer that can accommodate rush jobs without sacrificing sustainability. This is important especially if you have large files to upload and you need the job done fast without compromising any green printing principles that you and your company believes in. For your part, you must also make sure that the files to be uploaded are in the right formats and have no bleeds. There should also be someone from your team who is ready to proof the test copy (once it is ready) to avoid having another batch printed out, which of course defeats the purpose of hiring a printing Los Angeles company that offers green printing services.