Paper has an important place in business. Used across multiple departments including marketing, service/support, training, and for everyday office use, print materials go a long way towards conveying professionalism and establishing a strong brand. However, paper manufacturing is a contributor to global warming, which is why it’s important for companies to do what they can in order to take an environmentally responsible approach to printing. It’s especially important for global companies to cut back on energy usage and toxic emissions associated with printing at high volumes. It’s in everyone’s best interest to follow these principles of environmentally friendly global printing:

Consider the whole life-cycle (not just the product)
To take an environmentally friendly approach to global printing, one needs to consider every step of the process, from the care of the trees that are harvested (17,000 gallons of water required to water 24 medium-sized trees), to the emissions released during transport, to how paper is being used and what happens once it has been used.

Use “Lean” thinking
It’s important to print only what’s needed and eliminate the rest. For example, during the proofing process it’s advisable to edit using PDF on the screen and only print the final, approved documents. In addition to recycling all paper and using recycled paper, recycled ink and solvent can also be used. Use paper that is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, meaning that the paper and wood have been sourced in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable manner. Reduce power consumption by utilizing presses that need less power than conventional presses.

Simplify the product, the process AND the packaging

1. Paper is heavy. Consider using lighter stock or reducing the number of document pages.

2. Binding - Booklets with coil or wire binding are hard to recycle.

3. Consider using the same stock on the cover as inside. This reduces the number of make-readies, setups and plates etc resulting in lower energy consumption.

4. Rethink coatings (use water-based coating if needed) and specialty foils and other “adornments”

5. Simplify your packaging, and use green materials that use fewer or no plastics. Bubble-wrap is great but try using crumpled up or shredded waste board or paper.

6. Consult with your printer (AA Global can help with this) and work together on the most responsible, practical approach

Utilize local production and materials
The cost of shipping far distances isn’t only a financial cost. Think about the environmental cost of that far transport, too. Reducing long distance shipping by producing or sourcing all items associated with printing closer to where they are needed significantly reduces carbon emissions and is better for the environment. It also helps support local economies.

Avoid toxic/hazardous materials and processes
It’s important to avoid metallic and fluorescent ink that, in addition to contributing to global warming, are also dangerous to employee health. Aqueous (water-based) coating is preferable to varnish, UV, or laminates that require high energy and utilize hazardous chemicals. All chemicals should use low VOC emitting solvents and be reusable.

At AA Global Printing, we advocate and promote these principles to ensure that our clients are printing in an environmentally responsible manner. Our clients are able to offset many metric tons of CO2, N2O, and other harmful emissions every year.

K.I.N.D

The very essence of what we do (reducing long-distance shipping of printed materials) helps prevent the release of carbon and other harmful emissions into the atmosphere and helps companies that work with us reduce their environmental footprint too.
In doing so we believe we help make the world a better place.

We also believe in reaching out and helping where we can through contributions and support of important initiatives that promote the well-being of our neighbors. To this extent we are so proud to support the education of young women in Malawi through Unicef by donating to their really amazing K.I.N.D. (Kids In Need of Desks) campaign at https://donate.unicefusa.org/page/contribute/be-k-i-n-d-to-a-student-in-malawi-donate-a-desk-or-scholarship-16081 and encourage our partners and friends to join in this endeavor.
By reaching out and giving a helping hand we not only enrich the lives of young women through education, making for a brighter future for them, their families and communities but also help make our world a better, richer and safer place for us all.

Red Cross

We have long been supporters and donors to the Red Cross. Donating blood or platelets is easy to do, doesn’t take too long and is something that helps save lives in times of crisis and supports life-saving treatments of so many diseases.

Learn more at: Red Cross