Going Digital - is it more sustainable than print?

If you're a regular to this blog then you'll know that the paper industry is a big contributor to CO2 emissions, uses huge quantities of water and has petroleum inputs all along the product life-cycle.  It would seem that going digital is the sustainable option; Websites, eBooks and digital magazines don't use paper - Bingo problem solved!

But is that all there is to this equation?

Is buying and reading a magazine, newspaper or book more of less energy efficient than accessing the same information online?

To answer this we would need to do a full LCA (life cycle analysis) so let me throw a few general questions out there for you to consider:

• How many articles are read on an electronic device before it's disposed of?
• What percentage of a newspaper is actually read?
• How recyclable are tablets, eBook readers and computers? And what are their usable life span?
• How do newspapers and magazines add up in terms of recyclability and transport miles? 
• What heavy metals and toxic byproducts come from electronic goods?
• What is the impact of forestry, paper making, and ink production?
• What about the data centres that host the online versions; the aircon costs and the equipment?
• Can print on demand at regional centres reduce waste and transport costs?

Not so simple after all.. many competing factors, complex relationships and lack of information.

Case study:

Over at the guardian newspaper in the UK they are asking a similar question.  They acknowledge climate change and the economic, social and environmental challenges ahead, and are exploring their environmental footprint.
In response they have started a two year academic study to look at various scenarios know as the Sympact project. For more info - check out the this link.

Answers?
This doesn't get us any closer to answering the question, "Is digital more sustainable?" so let's make some sweeping assumptions and try and draw some sort of conclusion (un-scentifically).

• People will have computers and tablets whether I/you publish online or not. The contribution of my/your publication to the environmental cost of electronic manufacture and disposal is nearly negligible.
• Using virgin-wood paper, petroleum ink, transporting newsprint miles and dumping in landfills is not the most sustainable option.
• Using post-consumer recycled paper, vegetable-based ink and regional printing with household recycling pickups is more sustainable than the previous option.

Conclusion:
Looks like digital publishing is more sustainable if you pass the blame of production, use and disposal of all the electronic stuff onto "someone else".  The question we now have to ask is - who picks up the environmental tab for all this electronic stuff?


Find out more about the story of stuff here.
If you're interested in the sustainability of paper, ink or glue check out the sustainable graphic design quick guides here.

Sustainable Packaging Redesign fuseproject and PUMA

Here's a great video of how Yves Behar of fuseproject and PUMA re-designed the shoebox.

They spent 21 months | 2,000 ideas | 40+ prototypes

The result:

• 65% reduction in cardboard use
• using no tissue will save 8500 tons of paper and 1 million litres of water
• reduce CO2 by 10,000 tons
• 275 tons of plastic will also be saved

If you've read the sustainable designers quick guide to glues then you'll know that sometimes no-glue is best.

Check out fuseproject's neat no-glue design for the inside box:

To see more images follow this link over to fuseproject.com

Glue - the sustainable designers quick guide

The sustainable designers quick guide to glue and adhesives.
There are a huge variety of adhesives and glues available, in this guide we'll concentrate on the most commonly used glues for paper and packaging and hopefully it will be a springboard for your own investigation into the glues you'll consider using. Check out the sustainable adhesive options at the bottom and the introduction to no-glue alternatives.

Essentially we can subdivide glues into synthetic and naturally derived, and into reactive and non-reactive. For more details of the history and different properties of glues check this link.

The main environmental impacts from glues are the:

• solvent and gas emissions derived from the production and curing process 
• biodegradability of the disposed product 
• renewability of the material the glue was manufactured from

PVA glue
PVA is a white glue which is an emulsion of polyvinyl acetate in water.  This synthetic polymer sticks porous materials like paper and wood as the water evaporates leaving behind the PVA polymer. It forms transparent films that are resistant to organic solvents, oil and grease and impermeable to most natural gases. PVA can be made a neutral pH to increase the lifespan of books and papers. PVA is nontoxic to humans however it does release toxic fumes if burned. PVA is biodegradable.  PVA glue is a synthetic polymer manufactured from products generated by the petrochemical industry.

Synthetic Resin glue (one part epoxy)
Clear glue in a tube that has a strong solvent smell (ie. Multipurpose, UHU or GOOP) you don't have to mix it with anything. You may find them marketed as different products to bond different materials however they are all essentially the same although some may be thinner for precise application, thicker for non-drip/vertical application, or with added UV resistance and added colour.
They bond to metals, glass, some rubber and plastics, ceramics, paper, wood, leather, vinyl, canvas, masonry, concrete. They dry clear and are waterproof, acid free and slightly flexible.
Synthetic Resin glues give off solvents as they are curing and are irritating to eyes and skin. These glues are toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. All of these products are made from petrochemicals.

Two-part epoxy glue
These glues require two parts to be mixed together, an epoxide resin and a hardener.
They can be used on paper, card, wood, metal, glass, stone, and some plastics. Epoxy adhesives are better in heat and chemical resistance than other common adhesives.
They can be made flexible or rigid, transparent or coloured, and have various setting times.
The main hazard is allergic reaction to the hardener and can cause occupational asthma.  Some chemical compounds in the epoxy resin can cause cancer and developmental disorders in animals and humans as they are endocrine disruptors.
Almost all of these products are made from petrochemicals however some manufacturers have made epoxy that includes natural wood resins.
http://star-distributing.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page6.html

Latex-based glue (rubber cement and contact adhesive)
Latex-based adhesives are used to glue fabric, carpets and flexible porous objects. They can also be used as removable adhesives on non-porous surfaces.  Latex glues are formed from natural latex (rubber trees) or synthetic latex. They are mixed in a solvent to keep them fluid, this is generally acetone, hexane or heptane.  There is also a type of latex-based glue that is water-based (Copydex in the UK). These solvents evaporate leaving behind the rubber.
Latex-based glues do not work well in very cold conditions and can cause discolouration to light fabrics and paper. Natural latex glue is generally not as durable as other adhesives however it is very flexible. Natural latex is biodegradable and is naturally resistant to mold, mildew and bacteria.   Some people have an allergic reaction to natural latex.  Synthetic latex is created from oil-derivatives of the petrochemical industry, it forms a stronger bond and is hypoallergenic.
The solvents in these glues are produced from the petrochemical industry and can be hazardous if inhaled, they are also highly flammable. These solvents can damage some plastics and other polished surfaces.

Superglue
Superglue, cyanoacrylate or CA glue is a fast bonding adhesive that forms strong but brittle bonds.  It bonds skin and other organic and porous materials very well and is water resistant.   These glues contain solvents such as methyl alcohol to keep them in a liquid form. The fumes can irritate eyes, nose and throat and skin. CA glue is made from formaldehyde plus products from the petrochemical industry.

PVC plastic cement
PVC plastic cement is used to bond PVC plastic together.  It doesn't bond any other type of material or plastic. Essentially it provides a chemical weld between the two PVC plastic surfaces.  This works because the cement is actually a solvent that dissolves the PVC surfaces that it is in contact with. As the solvent evaporates the PVC plastic hardens and both surfaces are bonded together. The main hazard is inhalation of the vapour as it evaporates. The solvent is a product of the petrochemical industry.

Animal-based glue
Animal product based glue or horse glue is not commonly used except for speciality trades such as musical instrument repair and traditional cabinet carpentry. It is brittle and requires heating before application. It is biodegradable and from a renewable source.

Heat-seal adhesives
Another alternative to "cold glue" is heat-seal adhesives.  These are thermoplastics that are coated onto the surfaces and then activated by heat and pressure.  These adhesives don't change chemically but bond together due to heat.  Heat-seal adhesives can be solvent or water-based that are applied as liquid coatings. Some heat-sealing adhesives can also be applied as a hot melt coating via gravure, slotted die, or extrusion processes. The heat-seal process can be run on high speed production lines and is common for packaging.  An example of a heat-seal adhesive is Vinyl Acetate Acrylic Copolymer in a water based solution - a product of the petrochemical industry.

Sustainable Adhesive Options
The most sustainable options for adhesives involve using water-based emulsions or aqueous, latex-based or starch-based glues.  These are usually solvent-free alternatives. Solvent-less adhesives have been shown to emit 75% less CO2 and use 80% less energy than solvent-based adhesives.
Various adhesive manufacturers make sustainable options for both cold-seal and heat-seal adhesives.

No Glue Alternatives
The most ecological and sustainable designs are those that use no glue at all!  There is a lot of great design work happening for packaging that redesigns the need for glue. When was the last time you found your pizza box was glued together? This also saves on production costs.  Stay tuned to this blog for examples of designs that have out-designed the glue!


If you're interested in the sustainable options for paper, recycled paper or ink then check out the other quick guides in this series.

Sustainability, Peak Oil & Graphic Design

As mentioned previously, peak oil is one of the three major factors that will affect our future.
Below is a great video animation that introduces the products of the oil industry and the concept of peak oil.

(this peak oil chart comes from a great infographic you can view here)

Notice how lots of the products we print, design and market are made with oil, powered by oil and transported with oil.
If you want to find out more, just do a google search on "peak oil" and you'll get heaps of info.
For information about what you can do to minimise the effect of peak oil then check out the other posts in this blog and the quick guides to paper, ink and glue - all available on the right hand panel.

Inks - the sustainable designers quick guide

In this quick guide to inks we'll cover the toxic and environmental impacts of inks and the various alternatives available. At the end there's a quick summary of inks that don't deink - important information that may change your choice of printing!

Traditionally inks used in the professional printing industry have been petroleum-based.  These were introduced in the 1960's as they dried a lot quicker than vegetable-based inks. These petroleum-based inks enabled printers to run jobs faster and increase overall productivity.

Three main environmental issues with petroleum-based ink are:

• Volatile organic compounds
• Heavy metals
• Non-renewable oils

Volatile organic compounds or VOCs  - enable the ink to dry very quickly.  Many VOCs are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment. Due to these hazards VOC exposure is regulated in the workplace.  Inks do not necessarily give off their entire VOC content. In lithographic inks, very little of the ink oil used actually evaporates. Petroleum-based inks contain 30-35 percent VOCs.

Heavy Metals - are found in the pigments of some inks. Barium, copper and zinc can be found in some pigments. They are most often found in metallic inks that are green, orange or opaque yellow. Heavy metals are toxic and sometimes carcinogenic and do not biodegrade.  Instead they can leach into soil and groundwater from landfill sites and cause major problems to rivers and groundwater supplies.

Non-renewable oils
Petroleum-based inks are based on a non-renewable resource.  We can't grow more petroleum or crude oil. Check the sustainable graphic design blog from more information on the impacts of oil use and the phenomenon of peak oil. All good reasons to reduce our reliance on petroleum-based products.

Vegetable-based inks
Both soy and vegetable inks are made from renewable plant material and can help reduce VOC emissions. Soybean oil-based inks range from 2-5 percent VOC. One major problem with soy ink is that it takes more time to dry than petroleum-based inks, due to its lack of evaporative solvents in the form of VOCs.
The term "soy-ink" does not necessarily mean that the ink is 100% soybean oil. In fact, inks may contain only minimal amounts of soybean oil and still be marketed as a "soy-ink".  Printing ink manufacturers in the US can use a SoySeal® logo with various percentages of soil depending on the type of ink. See here for the percentages of soy in the ink.
Here's a link to the SoySeal logo.

Soy ink is primarily used in lithographic printing processes, including newspapers, books and magazines. Coloured soy inks have penetrated the market at a faster rate than black soy inks. The reason being that petroleum is dark, while soybean oil is relatively clear in colour (see above photo of the really dark petroleum-based oil). This allows the pigment to be seen more readily and results in brighter colours. A more visible colour enables a given amount of soy ink to produce more impressions than the same amount of petroleum ink, which translates into a 5-50 percent increase in transfer efficiency.

Biodegradability 
Soy inks are more biodegradable than petroleum inks. As the percentage of soybean oil increases in an ink formulation, biodegradability increases.  The total amount of ink makes up less than 1% of the paper waste however the deinking process produces a sludge waste of about 20% of the paper mixture when paper fibre is recycled.

Price
Currently black soy inks are priced higher than petroleum inks. However in coloured inks, pigments are by far the most expensive component. Coloured soy inks are competitively priced with petroleum-based coloured inks.

Read more about biochemicals and in particular soy inks by downloading this pdf from pneac.org.

Soy What?
Here's a simple infographic from christineparkdesign.com representing the benefits of using soy-based inks - follow the link for the large version on her website.

Recycled Inks
These can lessen the environmental impact of printing. Inks are not recycled in the same way as paper, plastics or glass and can't be recycled once they have been printed. Some ink providers can reuse old or spent inks by blending them together to form other, usually darker colours or black ink.

Deinking
Deinking is the key process in paper recycling. Hydrophobic (water-repellent) ink particles are separated from hydrophilic (water-wettable) fibres. This process has been developed for offset and gravure inks which are roughly more than 95% of the current recovered paper mixture.
Current water based inks create problems as they cannot be removed in this process and accumulate in the system. Dyes and ink particles too small to be removed have no other exit than in the paper fibres. They stain them just as red socks make your white clothes go pink in the washing machine.

Check out the list below of inks that cause problems during the recycling of paper and don't de-ink!

Inks that cause problems and don't De-ink:

• Digital Prints
• Injet inks
• Flexo inks
• Indigo liquid toner 

To find out more about Deinking visit the International Association of the Deinking Industry at ingede.org
They also have the Deinkability scores here.

If you want to read more about the principles of ink check out paperrep.com.

For more Quick Guides for sustainable graphic design go to the quick guides page, or use the links in the top right hand column.

A framework for sustainable design

Over at livingprinciples.org they have distilled the decision process that goes into everyday design practice into a framework that anyone can follow.

The "Living Principles for Design" framework takes the four main areas of sustainability - environment, people, economy and culture and shows how these factors can be considered holistically.

In the road map they asks some questions to spark thoughts and consider alternatives in the following main areas.

Environment:

• Behaviours
• Creation
• Durability
• Disassembly
• Supply chain
• Waste
• Impacts

People:

• Impacts
• Conflicts
• Desirability
• Need/Use
• Long view

Economy:

• Systemic view
• Metrics
• Benefits
• Transparency
• Waste reuse

Culture:

• Visions
• Meanings and reactions
• A systemic view
• Diversity

Check out the road map and see if you can integrate these questions into your design process.

Recycled paper - the sustainable designers quick guide

The sustainable designers quick guide to  recycled paper. In the previous quick guide to paper there is information on virgin fibre paper, additives and coatings.  Here we'll focus on recycled paper.

According to the United States EPA production of recycled paper causes 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution than making virgin paper.
It also stops trees being cut down.  However due to the de-inking process it can result in waste sludge of around 20% by weight of the paper being recycled (check out the quick guide to ink for more info on de-inking).

Paper content

Recycled paper is made from either pre-consumer waste or post-consumer waste and may also include a percentage of virgin wood fibre.
Pre-consumer waste content is waste fibre from paper mills that never reached the consumer (cut offs, rejects, etc.)
Post-consumer waste content is the fibre that is made from recycled office and home waste.
*Post-consumer waste content is considered better than pre-consumer because it is more likely to end up in landfills if it is not reused.
- Grades of waste paper 
- Grades of pulp and paper

Brightness
Sometimes post-consumer waste recycled paper has slightly more small specks in the paper than virgin sheets. This is due to the recycling and de-inking process and the type of ink that was on the waste paper.
Recycled papers may be a point or two lower in brightness than their virgin paper counterparts. However, recycled papers generally have higher opacity (which means they are harder to see through), often considered an asset, especially for double-sided printing.
Designers can save on paper by using a thinner, less expensive sheet if it has more opacity. Using a thinner sheet can also save on mailing costs.
If your print job has 100% ink coverage then the slightly less bright recycled paper will not effect the finished product.

One of the factors that effects brightness is how paper is bleached. Here I'll go into the process in more detail and the various end-options that you can choose from when selecting paper.

Chlorine bleaching and Chlorine-free Paper
Chlorine bleaching is used to give paper its bright white colour. It can also have a negative effect on the environment. When chlorine is used to bleach paper the process can also result in the formation of harmful chemicals such as dioxins and furans, which are known to cause cancer in humans.
Other options for bleaching paper are available to the paper industry and these include oxygen bleaching. The safest paper bleaching processes are totally chlorine-free (TCF) or processed chlorine-free (PCF).

Here are brief explanations and some common logos (depending on where you live):

Totally chlorine-free (TCF): Virgin paper produced without chlorine or chlorine derivatives (the bleaching process uses oxygen-based compounds).

Processed chlorine-free (PCF): Contains recycled content produced without elemental chlorine or chlorine derivatives, although one or more fibre components may have originally been bleached with chlorine or chlorine derivatives. Any virgin pulp is TCF.

Elemental chlorine-free (Traditional ECF): Replaces elemental chlorine with chlorine dioxide in the bleaching process.

Enhanced ECF (ECF with extended or oxygen delignification): Removes more of the lignin from the wood before bleaching, thus reducing energy and chemical use during bleaching (the final stage uses chlorine dioxide).

Enhanced ECF with ozone or hydrogen peroxide: In addition to removing more of the lignin from the wood before bleaching, substitutes ozone or hydrogen peroxide for chlorine or chlorine dioxides as a brightening agent in the initial stages of the bleaching process (the final or near-final stage uses chlorine dioxide).

Which Chlorine Free Paper is best?
So on the basis of environmental criteria the best paper to get is:

1. PCF (because product includes recycled content)
2. TCF (TCF is used only to refer to 100 percent virgin paper)
3. Enhanced ECF with ozone or hydrogen peroxide
4. Enhanced ECF (ECF with extended or oxygen delignification)
5. Traditional ECF

To find out more about chlorine free products go to:
Natural Resources Defense Council
The Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA)
Environmentally responsible printing

Sustainable forestry management
In addition to recycled paper there are also certifications that can be applied to paper obtained from sustainable forests.  The two main certification programs are:
PEFC Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
FSC Forest Stewardship Council
Depending on which country you live in, there are various logos to signify sustainable forestry management.

Carbon Neutral Production
A product or company that have had their carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions calculated, reduced and offset with credits from fund renewable, emission free energy products can be verified as carbon neutral.
Increasingly companies are becoming carbon neutral by buying credits from carbon offset schemes to become sustainable. Various standards and certification exist for different countries.  Here are a few common logos for carbon neutral products.

In addition to these varieties of recycled paper, there is also acid-free paper and the various additives (sizing) and coatings.  These are covered in the sustainable designers quick guide to paper.