Environmentally Friendly Screen Printing Process

Screen printers can choose environmentally friendly alternatives like organic cotton T-shirts.

If you enjoy screen printing and would like to reduce your environmental impact, examine your choices of materials at every step of the process. You can use environmentally friendly fabrics, inks and papers.

Environmentally Friendly Fabric

Consider using fabrics or apparel from fair labor-certified manufacturers, as human rights and environmentalism are deeply intertwined. Third party organizations issue fair labor certifications based on hiring practices, employee compensation and health care, overall working conditions and policies regarding unionization. Look for certified organic cotton. According to George Bates of Shirt Magic, growers spray conventionally grown cotton with 300 percent of its weight in pesticides. You also can try using hemp fabrics.

Environmentally Friendly Paper

Screen print on "green paper." According to Legion Paper, green paper must satisfy one or more of the following criteria: it can be handmade, made using alternative energy sources, be free of chlorine, be mill certified or be made without trees (i.e. recycled paper or paper made from alternative plant sources like hemp).

Environmentally Friendly Ink

Avoid plastisol and solvent-based inks. As of 2010, several companies offer environmentally friendly inks designed specifically for screen printing. These inks eschew chemical solvents completely in favor of naturally-derived ingredients like citrus and soy. You also can consider using non-toxic, water-based inks like Permaset Aqua, which does not contain PVC or ozone-depleting CFCs.

References

• Impressions Mag: Maggie's Organics Launches Fair Labor-Certified Line
• Legion Paper: Fine Art Paper: What Green Means to Legion
• Impressions Mag: Screen Printer Takes Eco-nomical Approach
• Crafting A Green World: Screen Print Your Own Eco-Friendly Fabric