Environmental considerations are becoming a critical business issue for printing companies. If you fail to meet the requirements of environmentally conscious customers, along with increasing government regulations, your print shop, and your business, could be in jeopardy. HP Latex inks and printers will help you turn sustainable business practices into business growth. This is the featured front cover article of the September/October Sign Africa Journal.
Why Should Your Business Care About Sustainability?
More and more customers, large and small, are requesting print campaigns with reduced environmental impact. In addition, customers are now supporting brands that meet compliance with legal regulations, including documented proof that environmental standards are met.
Brands are becoming increasingly aware of the need to incorporate sustainability in their company policy and adhere to the same. Sustainability has become a permanent fixture for 70% of CEOs.
Some projects, for example, those from the rapidly expanding interior decor segment, demand strict compliance including but not limited to: indoor air quality and display prints; and sustainable sourcing of printing materials.
The print industry is slowly but surely transitioning toward a circular economy. This is regenerative and restorative by design and will help organisations to create more value while reducing dependence on scarce resources. By adopting more sustainable business practices, your business can attract more consumers concerned about sustainability, and you can differentiate your business from competitors.
Move Your Business Toward A Sustainable Future With HP
HP is recognised among the 2020 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World and has achieved multiple other sustainability awards year after year.
Water-based HP Latex inks are designed to avoid the hazards associated with solvent and UV. With an end-to-end approach, HP continues to drive a greater sustainable impact in large format printing with each new generation of HP Latex Printing System. HP has the commitment and the scale to address current as well as anticipated environmental needs, and to continue leading the change in signage printing.
Lead With The Most Environmentally Certified Technology
HP Latex inks have qualified for certifications, which demonstrate that they meet some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low chemical emissions into indoor air. These include GREENGUARD GOLD and UL ECOLOGO®. As a result, HP Latex inks allow print service providers to produce odourless prints for indoor displays in sensitive environments such as hospitality, schools and healthcare.
Additionally, the inks are durable in that they feature light-fade resistance, scratch and abrasion resistance, as well as water and chemical resistance, ticking off as many boxes as a user may anticipate during day-to-day operations. Also, while non-HP inks may cost less per litre, they can cause frequent printhead replacement, unsellable prints and increased printer downtime and maintenance.
The fourth generation of HP Latex inks brings even more innovation than previous generations. HP Latex ink technology contributes to the wellbeing of your employees, customers and businesses and provides outdoor durability and versatility across all common media types used in sign and display applications, while newly expanding into white ink applications, to produce high-quality and odourless prints for indoor display in sensitive environments.
HP Latex inks are made in a factory that uses reclaimed water. In this way, HP contributes to water resiliency and protecting natural resources. The water HP uses has gone through multiple purification steps, providing a purity that is comparable to, or higher than, conventional tap water as confirmed by regular monitoring.
The latest generation of HP Latex inks contain no Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Printing with HP Latex inks avoids the problematic reactive monomer chemistry and ozone generation associated with UV printing.
Containing up to 65% water, this ink has a flashpoint greater than 110 °C, making it non-combustible and non-flammable. In contrast, eco-solvent and solvent-based inks typically have highly volatile components in high concentrations with flashpoints around 60°C to 70 °C.
As with most cyan inks, the HP Latex cyan ink uses a copper-based dye that is present in a bound form as copper phthalocyanine. There are no other heavy metals present as intentionally added ingredients in these HP Latex inks and the inks are PVC-free.
HP Latex ink is not classified as an eye irritant, and the latex polymer in HP Latex inks is not related to natural or synthetic latex, so it does not cause a latex-related allergic reaction.
An important component of total environmental performance is the recyclability of used consumables. HP printers and supplies contain recycled plastics designed with post-consumer electronics, soda bottles, UL-validated ocean bound plastics, coat hangers and empty original HP ink cartridges.
Rob Makinson, Group CEO at Midcomp, said that sustainability is very important to the company. ‘For many years, Midcomp has promoted the fact that HP Latex inks are the most environmentally conscious inks in our industry. Competitors have sometimes comically tried to defend their position by spreading mistruths. Midcomp remains quite perplexed at the inaction of a majority of retailers to guide or steer their print service providers towards sustainable printing. Sustainable printing is a global trend and will eventually take hold in South Africa. We are well positioned to meet that challenge and work with customers to enable them to take advantage of those opportunities.’
Makinson also said that Midcomp is actively creating a more sustainable business, and the company has worked with HP to implement their guidelines with respect to sustainability. ‘Certain applications are more suited to different ink technologies, so we do address those as necessary to round off our product portfolio. We are also a participant in HP’s global Amplify Partner Programme and we have reached impressive accreditation. We have initiated, and we help manage, certain recycling programmes that are unique to HP ink and the media that we sell. This came at the behest of a large and well-known retailer who recognises the benefits of using print service providers that can prove their sustainability not only in terms of print but also in terms of how waste is managed.’
Makinson also explained how Midcomp can give printers a sustainable edge: ‘Midcomp works to educate and convince potential clients about the benefits of sustainability. For existing customers using HP Latex inks, we work tirelessly with brand owners and corporates to create awareness of the benefits of a sustainable print solution. We also fight against greenwashing, which is surprisingly prevalent.’
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