Is Sublimation Eco-Friendly | Helpful Tips
As sublimation printers become more popular, people are starting to ask if this process is eco-friendly. In this blog post, we will take a look at the characteristics of the sublimation printing process to see, is sublimation eco-friendly or not. We will also discuss some tips on how you can make your sublimation prints more environment friendly. Keep reading to learn more.
What makes Sublimation Printing Eco-friendly?
There are eight main characteristics that make this process eco-friendly: Let’s take a closer look at each one of them:
1. Waste Reduction
An environmentalist who loves nature will tell you to reduce, reuse and recycle exhaust printing. The manufacturers of sublimation printers do precisely this, so their products produce less waste while being used.
2. Water Usage
Dye Sublimation printers use water as a solution to lower the temperature that is needed to create images on print media. As the heater heats up, it uses less energy than if it were using another solution like alcohol or petrochemicals. It is estimated that sublimation printers use 50% less energy than other processes.
3. Paper Usage
When looking at a printer’s specs, you may notice that it requires special sublimation paper in order to print images. The paper needs to be recycled or recyclable. Also, when considering a new printer purchase, you should look for one that uses different forms of media, including:
- Cardstock
- Vinyl
- Fabric
- Metal
- Paper
- Leather
- Plastic
- Rubber and more!
These special types of media can be used multiple times while traditional printer paper cannot. This means you will only buy the special paper once and use it for a long time before having to purchase new supplies.
4. Limited Waste from Cartridges
The cartridges that come with the printer should not contain harmful chemicals such as:
- acetone
- ethyl acetate
- lacquer
This means if you throw out the cartridge after it runs out of ink, it will not harm the environment. There are also some companies that take old cartridges back for recycling to further decrease waste. This is a great way to keep cartridges out of landfills and create eco-friendlier chemicals.
5. Energy Usage
In addition to reducing waste and using water as a solution, you should also consider energy usage when considering being environment friendly. Digital Sublimation printing typically uses less electricity than other printers because they don’t have to transfer an electronic signal across a wire. Instead, a unique heating head transfers the image onto the print media.
6. Garments
Sublimation printers can print on one side of a garment, and it looks great when both sides are displayed. After the image is transferred onto the natural fabric, you don’t have to worry about the ink running off onto your skin or other surfaces like cotton or a piece of fabric would. And it’s a smarter choice that not only will you save money from garment printing because you won’t need to replace any clothes, but you will also be saving the environment because sublimation is eco-friendlier.
7. Fumes Produced
When traditional printers are used, they produce micro-particles that can be harmful to our lungs. Unfortunately, sublimation printers use a heat transfer process instead of ink to create the images, and they don’t emit these harmful micro-particles. This makes this printing method much safer than traditional printers, which is something everyone can appreciate.
8. Recycling Media
When purchasing print media, it is important to see if it can be recycled or if it needs to be thrown away after use. Synthetic materials used for sublimation can be recycled; however, a basic type of paper cannot go without a special chemical process. This is an important thing to look for when you are considering purchasing a printer.
Is Sublimation Ink Toxic?
Traditional ink is made from oil from the earth. This means it contains toxic chemicals that can be harmful to both you and the environment; if disposed of improperly. Sublimation ink products are not made from traditional oil but its Water-based ink. It does not contain any of these harmful chemicals and can be thrown into a recycling bin when finished with.
Learn about Best Sublimation Inks.
FAQs
Is sublimation safe?
Sublimation has been used safely for many years on items such as t-shirts. This process is considered to be safe and eco-friendly.
How long will sublimation last?
Sublimation prints can last for many years as long if there are appropriately cared for and should be washed with similar colors to avoid damaging the image.
Is sublimation ink vegan?
Sublimation ink can be made from plants and synthetic fibers instead of traditional oil. This means it is vegan-friendly.
Will sublimation ink come off my skin?
Dye Sublimation ink is not like traditional inks and will not run onto your skin. This means you will not have to worry about your skin smelling like ink or the ink running onto other objects.
CONCLUSION
Sublimation printing produces minimal waste, and the ink is non-toxic. In addition, sublimated products can be recycled or composted. This makes the process of sublimation business a sustainable option for consumers alike. We hope this article has helped you with your questions about sublimation being eco-friendly.
