Environmentally responsible design and print

Here at blu inc. we firmly believe in the need to be environmentally responsible. Wherever possible we encourage the use of recycled materials with all our clients. We endeavour to use printers and other suppliers with the same ethical standards. Together we can adopt a simple approach which reduces the impact on the environment from the design and print we produce.

A simple approach

Good preparation. If possible, handover the project to us when you’ve done as much preparation as possible. Seek input from colleagues at an early stage. Prepare a detailed brief for us to follow. Appoint a project manager who will be responsible for liaising with and supplying all relevant copy and/or images on disc to us.

Electronic proofing. PDF files can be sent and received using email, ISDN, or even written to disc. They are a very good way of supplying proofs quickly and efficiently. Another of the key benefits is that you can view a design (and print if necessary) on your computer as it was originally intended to be viewed. In order to view PDFs you will require Acrobat Reader software available to download free of charge from the Adobe website. Download Acrobat Reader

Minimise corrections. This is where good preparation pays off. The more preparation you have done, the less likely it is that you will need to make extensive corrections. This will save time and money, especially if corrections are made at the pre-press stage.

Recycled and sustainable. Using recycled paper is an obvious step to take. There are now a wide range of papers available. If recycled paper is not suitable, make sure you choose a paper from sustainable forest, where trees are grown and replaced continuously for paper production.

What printers can do. Recent advances in print technology mean that resources have been dramatically reduced throughout the entire print process. The introduction on a large scale of digital colour print means that a project can be printed direct from an electronic file, cutting out a number of time and energy consuming processes.

Ask your printer what else they are doing. blu inc. has taken a considerable amount of time and effort sourcing printers who have extended their environmental policies in the following ways:

• By using vegetable oil based printing inks from renewable resources containing no mineral oils (not renewable!)

• By recycling all waste paper from the print presses

• By recycling all printing plates

• By recycling all cardboard packaging waste

• By recycling all old ink tins and waste ink

• By not using film or film processing chemicals (Direct to Plate)

• By offering matt/silk/gloss biodegradable/recyclable lamination produced from mainly renewable resources