Working for printing companies most of my adult life- being green has been discussed numerous times but all I ever heard about was paper….
It started with “Make sure you are using recycled paper” and then it was FSC certified papers, then it became about the energy required to run HUGE printing presses, or the emissions put out by all the fleets of trucks delivering large shipments of paper produced from trees in the forests that are being pillaged…. and all of these are great ways to be green! But I believe there is more to being green in the printing industry!!!! It has as much to do with your marketing program and marketing department as it does the actual printing process.
Don’t produce paper and marketing material or mailings that just get mass produced and shipped to thousands of people who will instantly throw it in the trash (double no-no environmentally!) You can produce a much more targeted campaign, which will result in producing less pieces and each piece will be more likely to get a response rather than being thrown in the trash.
This is where Indigo comes in!
The HP Indigo is a digital printer that specializes in producing short run printing and utilizes variable data. This machine allows for the economical and environmentally friendly production of marketing materials.
Here is an article from HP that was published in DScoop Quarterly about the Indigo:
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Typical offset printers have more components that result in higher waste quantity and waste disposal cost than digital printers. When speaking to new and existing clients, mention the following green-friendly technical aspects of the HP Indigo press.
WASTE:
While HP Indigo products generate some wastes that are regulated for disposal, these wastes are not categorized as hazardous according to Federal Regulation 40 CFR 261. Note: Some state and/or local authorities may have special requirements for compliant disposal. Our customers are encouraged to engage licensed waste haul-away contractors for compliant disposal of waste, including waste ink cans, imaging oil bottles, oil filters, chiller filters, and waste oil.
AIR POLLUTANTS:
None of HP Indigo’s process ink colors, including HP Electro Ink 4.0 and other supplies, contain substances listed on the federal list of hazardous air pollutants established under Section 112 of the Federal Clean Air Act.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) EMISSIONS:
VOC emissions levels from printing on an HP Indigo 5000 sheet-fed press are approximately 0.23 lb per hour for an average coverage hob when operated in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The source of VOC emissions from the press is imaging oil and the emission level is lower than levels associated with a typical offset press.
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In addition to using the Indigo as a more eco-friendly means for producing your marketing material take time to go through your mailing list (if you don’t have time to do this we can do it for you!!). Really define who you are sending your information to… does your marketing piece fit each person. Personalize each piece- increase their attention and in turn your response rate. Direct mailing is an effective way to market; just make sure your target isn’t just throwing away your mailer!!!
Top Graphics prints using 2 HP Indigo’s. For more information on how to use variable data to create a more targeted marketing approach and help save the environment please contact me!
Best Regards,
Tabetha Koenig
TOP Graphics
658 Fee Fee Road
St. Louis, MO 63043
Direct: 314.218.2071
Cell: 314.517.2168
tabetha@topgraphics.com
We’re the printer that does the stuff the other printers don’t do!
