Task 02 Sustainable Design/Packaging Related

Task 02 Sustainable Design/Packaging Related

Topic: Vegetable Ink Printing



Traditional Ink Printing is petroleum based as it contains dangerous chemicals which can be harmful to the human health and cause environmental pollution.The petroleum based ink is also used with alcohol based solvents which speeds the drying process, allowing documents to be printed in time. An obvious disadvantage of Traditional Ink Printing is that it is more difficult to de-ink when recycled, therefore it results in toxic waste. The main problem with normal ink printing is as the petroleum and alcohol evaporate Volatile Organic Compounds, this then reacts with nitrogen oxides in sunlight to create pollution in to the atmosphere. It releases up to 30% VOCs. 

I have already previously covered the importance of crude oil where petroleum comes from it is an non renewable source and we will run out of oil some day. Hence, why we need start looking for other possible options.

Vegetable Ink Printing is the solution to VOC's as it is an environmentally friendly alternative. This is made from a variety of vegetable oils like corn, walnut, coconut, canola and soy bean. The advantage of using Vegetable based inks is that it comes from renewable sources . It is also easier to recycle when we de-inking from paper and it is a less hazardous. The only disadvantage is that it take longer to dry but release 2-4% Volatile Organic Compounds in to the atmosphere.

Vegetable inks are just as expensive as petroleum based ink.



HP Green Tips for those who have a printer at home 

Vegetable Ink printing covers the following points:

4. Design to enable the separation of components of the product/material or service product at the end of life in order to encourage recycling or reuse of materials and/or components.

5. Design to exclude the use of substances toxic or hazardous to human and other forms of

life at all stages of the product/material/service product's lifecycle.

7. Design to use locally available materials and resources wherever possible (thinking

globally but acting locally).

14. Design to create more sustainable products/materials/service products for a more

sustainable future.