All businesses are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint but becoming more eco-friendly can be tricky. Companies are routinely trying to maximise profits whilst reducing outgoing and resources, and a focus on environmentally friendly processes and products is often linked to increased costs. However, there are plenty of ways to achieve your green credentials without blowing your budget.

Switching to more socially conscious print methods is a simple and straightforward way to move to your business into a new era of sustainable development, without increasing your outgoings or compromising on quality.

For companies, effective print methods and printed products are a non-negotiable part of business. Whether you require hundreds of leaflets to be distributed to existing customers, thousands of letterheads for correspondence or a selection of banner stands for exhibitions, they all need to be printed to a professional standard.

With sustainable print options, however, you can access top-quality prints without harming the environment. Choosing recycled and recyclable materials to print on is one of the simplest ways to enhance the eco credentials of your company.

Paper producers who are endorsed by the Forestry Commission, for example, are committed to replanting trees and cultivating a sustainable source of paper-based materials. Similarly, recycled and recyclable paper ensures that goods can be reused and repurposed, almost without limit.

Although most companies assume that leaflets, labels, stationery and marketing materials will be printed on standard paper, there are many other options out there. If you choose lithographic printing, for example, there is a wider range of substrates to choose from. In addition to printing on to standard paper, lithographic printing can be used on papers produced from hemp or linen, as well as other natural and innovative materials.

Combined with environmentally friendly inks, companies can choose to switch to more eco friendly options when it comes to all of their printed materials. As well as using pro-planet inks and papers for marketing material and content for customers, these printing options can also be used for materials which are to be used in-house.

With the ability to dramatically enhance your eco-friendly processes and minimise harmful outputs simply by switching to an alternative print format, your company can effectively improve its printed materials and boost its eco credentials in the process.

Not at all! Environmentally friendly print options don’t equate to a loss of quality. In fact, the wider range of substrates associated with lithographic printing can enhance your materials and increase their effectiveness and attractiveness. Enabling you to achieve results which simply aren’t available via other print methods, using eco-friendly ink and/or sustainably sourced paper won’t reduce the quality of your materials in any way.

Similarly, ensuring your digital prints are printed on to recycled, recyclable and sustainably sourced papers won’t limit print quality. Whilst being eco-friendly and achieving top-quality print results were once seen as competing aims, new technology has ensured that we can deliver exceptional and environmentally friendly prints.

Incorporating eco-friendly printing materials into your company can be beneficial for many reasons. As well as doing your bit to help the environment, making the switch to green prints can help your business to function more efficiently.

In a bid to reduce the impact of climate change, corporate organisations are being heavily encouraged to reduce their carbon footprints. Whilst this certainly applies to large, international companies, it is equally relevant to start-ups, enterprises and SMEs. With various grants available to organisations that want to use greener processes, reducing your carbon emissions could increase your eligibility for government grants and incentives.

Furthermore, businesses could face a range of sanctions and fines it they fail to adhere to strict emission limits. For organisations of all sizes, these unnecessary levies could have a significant impact on their productivity and profitability.

Using more eco-friendly print materials is an easy way to ensure your company is meeting the guidelines set out by the government regarding emissions. Whilst modifying your in-house processes can be time-consuming and require considerable capital investment, switching to alternative and environmentally friendly needn’t require any additional outputs.

On the contrary, opting to use sustainable materials and eco friendly ink for your print materials could enhance your business outputs, with no increase in your costs.

As well as meeting governmental guidelines and avoiding costly sanctions, choosing greener print options can be an integral part of your branding process. Whether you’re a company that already specialises in organic or environmentally products or you want to introduce an innovative eco friendly line to your existing empire, you can expand this ethos across all of your branding and marketing.

Climate change and damage to the environment are, ironically, hot topics, and businesses that adopt new environmentally friendly processes are rewarded with positive media coverage. Whether your business receives awards from eco friendly organisations, gains coverage in the mainstream media or is able to promote its commitment to sustainability as part of a digital marketing campaign, switching to alternative print methods can create a buzz around your business, products and services.

As a result, you can successfully promote your business and your attitude to the environment, whilst increasing brand awareness and boosting engagement.

To be successful, companies must satisfy customer demand. Although it’s important to fulfil the existing needs of clients and customers, being able to predict how consumer and client behaviour will change in the future is paramount to on-success. With many people already actively looking for companies which prioritise sustainability, there is a clear trend towards favouring environmentally friendly businesses across all demographics.

By adopting a more eco-friendly approach now, you can ensure that you’re satisfying a growing demand, without the risk of alienating your existing customer base. Delivering increased sustainability and improved quality, switching to greener inks and print materials can be most cost-effective and advantageous for your business.

To learn more about our range of sustainable, recyclable, recycled and environmentally friendly print materials, contact IPW1 on 020 7437 3200 now.