Cut Vinyl Lettering
March 11, 2021Since the very beginning East Van Vinyl has opted to use water-based HP latex ink technology; in our opinion latex ink provides the best overall print characteristics with excellent image quality, large colour gamuts, and consistent colour profiling, all while being low-odor, scratch-resistant, flexible, and non-toxic.
The print industry as a whole is making big moves to further improve its overall environmental impact. With an increased focus on sustainability we have been looking at ways to develop our sustainability program, whilst maintaining competitive pricing, and continually providing the highest-quality graphic products.
In the spring of 2021 we took delivery of the latest HP Latex 700 Series. The latest HP technology has allowed us to both expand our output capabilities with the addition of white ink but also added a number of attractive environmental benefits too.
Plastic ink cartridges have been replaced with HP Eco-Carton ink cartridges, reducing plastic consumption by up to 80% and CO2e by 66%. By now housing the cartridges in a cardboard outer shell, we are able to locally recycle the cartridge packaging and send the inner ink bag back to HP, to be recycled through their Planet Partners program.
The latest generation of water-based HP Latex inks is odorless and low-emitting meeting UL GREENGUARD GOLD certifications. HP Latex inks avoid the problematic reactive monomers associated with alternative printing processes such as UV. Acrylate monomers present in uncured UV and UV-gel inks can damage the skin. They also don’t emit Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS) commonly seen with solvent-based printers.
In addition to our printers, we have also been exploring new materials and print media that can help to reduce post-consumer waste through prevention, reuse, and recycling. In 2019 we moved our most commonly used self-adhesive products to Drytac’s range of Phthalate-Free media in order to move away from harmful VOC’s inherent in many PVC products. We have encouraged customers running repeat promotions to opt for re-usable static clings, and are currently testing a range of non-PVC and PET window films and wall coverings to add to our current lineup.
Get in touch to find out the best green solutions for your project!