What Are the Environmental Benefits of UV Printing?
Ultraviolet printing is a crystal-clear digital printing technology that we at VKF Renzel use to vibrantly reproduce your artwork, on our state-of-the-art in-house UV printing machines. UV printing can be used to showcase your unique designs on a myriad of materials, including ACM, vinyl, PVC, acrylic, wood, glass and more. We work with a wide range of businesses to meet their large format UV printing needs and can print items up to 3 metres by 2 metres in size. We can even print up to 2 metres in height on continuous rolls of flexible material, to your desired length.As the world has become more and more aware of its environmental obligations in recent times, UV printing has emerged and quickly grown as a popular and eco-friendly alternative to traditional printing methods. Conventional printing methods tend to use solvent-based inks, while UV printing uses inks that are cured by ultraviolet (UV) light, resulting in not only superb printing quality but also several environmental benefits.
In this blog, we are discussing the significant environmental benefits of UV printing and why it is rapidly becoming the default choice for a large number of businesses in the UK.
UV Printing Reduces Harmful Emissions and Improved Health and Safety
Traditional printing is usually achieved using solvent-based inks that give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute to air pollution and can have adverse effects on human health if the correct procedures aren’t followed, such as using personal protective equipment (PPE). Mishandling these solvents can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation and other health issues when mishandled.
One of the most significant environmental benefits of switching to UV printing is that it reduces these harmful emissions. UV printing doesn’t emit any harmful substances into the air. The inks used in UV printing are cured using ultraviolet light, which eliminates any need for the use of solvents. This has quickly made UV printing the de facto method of printing for businesses that are concerned about their ongoing environmental impact.
UV Printing Saves Energy
As if the lack of emissions wasn’t a strong enough reason to make the switch, UV printing also saves energy. Traditional printing methods use a tremendous amount of energy to dry solvent-based ink. Because UV printing uses ultraviolet light to cure inks instantly, these energy-intensive drying processes are eliminated.
Without the need for drying, UV printing significantly reduces energy consumption and, therefore, carbon emissions too. This secures UV printing its reputation as being the environmentally friendly alternative to traditional printing, and it does all this without compromising on the quality of your finished printed materials.
UV Printing Reduces Waste and Uses Sustainable Materials
UV printing is less wasteful. Traditional printing methods often create significant amounts of wasted ink, as well as the need for frequent ink changes. This can result in a large amount of waste that is harmful to the environment.
In contrast, UV printing machines use inks that are cured instantly using ultraviolet light. This means that there is no need for frequent ink changes, creating minimal waste. Additionally, UV printing can print on a wide range of substrates, which reduces the need for excess packaging materials. The inks used in UV printing are also made from natural, renewable resources such as soybeans, which are a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based inks.
UV Printing Does Not Compromise Print Quality
UV printing is more resistant to sun bleaching than traditional printing methods because the UV process creates a more durable print that can resist fading and other types of damage caused by exposure to the sun. UV printing is also more resistant to water and chemicals, making it ideal for outdoor applications where prints need to withstand harsh environments.
UV Printing with VKF Renzel
If you are looking for an eco-friendly printing option, UV printing may be the right choice for your business. Not only does it offer a range of environmental benefits, but it also produces high-quality prints that are long-lasting and vibrant.
We’re very proud to be able to offer such an eco-friendly and sustainable printing solutions package at VKF Renzel. As well as being able to offer bespoke printing on a number of different materials, we use UV printing in many of our popular POS and event space solutions, such as our affordable banner displays and exhibition walls and counters, and wall signs.
Find out more about our services on our UV printing page, and we’ve also put together a complete guide to UV printing on our blog. If you’d like to get in touch with us to discuss your printing needs, please call us on 01527 878311, or email sales@vkf-renzel.co.uk and we’ll get right back to you.