Waterless printing is a method of offset printing which is less environmentally damaging than conventional lithographic printing. Traditionally, printing is a huge consumer of resources, including chemicals, water and energy. Many large presses can consume hundreds of thousands of water per year as part of the normal printing process. Waterless printing takes advantage of modern technology to reduce these environmental impacts. Notably, it uses Computer to plate (CtP) technology and silicon plates to eliminate chemicals and water all together. Many waterless printers also use Direct Ink (DI) technology and vegetable-based inks exclusively to further reduce resource use, pollution and VOCs emissions. Waterless presses are currently in the minority, although they are becoming more popular. Waterless presses are also praised for their high quality colour reproduction, and the reduced paper set-up waste for each job.
"Waterless printing does not use dampening solutions, which contain alcohols or petroleum-based solvents. Such solutions contain more than 60% volatile organic compounds, which contribute to smog. A waterless press eliminates the need for up to 100,000 litres of water and 10,000 litres of alcohol per year consumed by a typical mid-size printer."[1]
Notes
- ^ Changing the flow, p. 2
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