Plastic Paper -- A Green Answer

The question that challenged American shoppers a decade ago was "paper or plastic?" This phrase was heard at grocery stores and other large retail outlets as efforts were made to give shoppers the option to select either a paper shopping bag or a plastic shopping bag. In other countries, a bag is not provided free-of-charge, so most often shoppers bring their own bag. But now that challenge will occur for shoppers as the choice between paper or plastic heads toward more sustainable printing practices. In the future, paper may be plastic!

There are several companies that have been declaring their 100% tree-free paper as a way to "go green" when printing documents, books, pamphlets and so forth. Some companies are marketing their synthetic paper as being "100% tree free" and also have a line of substrates that are made from polypropylene pellets and is also 100% recyclable. Part of the focus is on saving the world's forests, but the question many have is whether using plastic that stays in the environment much longer in the form of waste is really a sustainable option. Companies are selling synthetic paper and other types of paper.

Another factor that manufacturers taunt is that these synthetic papers are resistant to tear and other forms of abuse. This obviously increases the overall longevity of the printed materials, so there is less likelihood that they will become garbage in the near-term, thus keeping them out of the overall waste stream.

Substrates aren't the only environmentally friendly product category. One interesting software application is called an "eco-print calculator" this software can be integrated into a company's overall cost visualization software for large-format printers. It allows users to monitor all the costs associated with a particular print job, and even calculate the carbon that is generated by each element of any job, whether it is ink, media, electricity, or other inputs.

Overall the print industry is moving toward more green options and paying attention to the need for more sustainable practices when it comes to digital printing, paper and the environment. Would you like paper or plastic in your printer?

Oliver David writes for Fusion Digital Paper and other publications on subjects like vinyl paper.