Green Printing: Advancing Sustainability Approach in Printing Industry

Description

Abhishek Saini and Vandana (Department of Printing Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana)

The printing industry has traditionally been associated with significant environmental impacts due to high consumption of paper, energy and hazardous chemicals. As global sustainability efforts intensify, the concept of green printing has emerged as a transformative approach aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of print production. Green printing represents a critical advancement in aligning print production with environmental stewardship and sustainable development goals. Green printing explores the environmental challenges posed by conventional printing practices and highlights the principles, technologies and materials driving the shift toward sustainable printing. Key innovations such as waterless printing, soy-based inks, digital workflows and the use of recycled or certified paper are examined for their contributions to reducing waste and conserving resources. The paper also addresses industry certifications and standards, including FSC, ISO 14001 and Green Seal, which provide frameworks for environmental accountability.