The print industry, despite its essential role in daily life, faces significant environmental challenges that hinder its sustainability. From harmful chemicals in inks to energy-intensive processes, the industry must urgently adopt more eco-friendly practices to reduce its environmental footprint. Similarly, the textile industry, particularly its printing sector, has come under scrutiny for unsustainable practices, including excessive water use and chemical pollution. Textile production consumes around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually and generates 2–8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to environmental degradation. Microplastics and harmful chemicals from inks further exacerbate the issue, polluting oceans and natural ecosystems. Addressing these challenges is critical for a greener future.
Transitioning to Sustainable Printing
Digital printing has emerged as a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods. It enables on-demand, personalized printing, reducing waste and eliminating the need for inventory storage. However, the industry must go beyond adopting digital printing to create a more sustainable printing ecosystem. Mimaki, a leader in LED-UV technology, has made strides in this area. Its UV printers use ultra-violet light to instantly cure ink, reducing energy consumption significantly. Mimaki’s UV roll-to-roll printers consume five times less power than solvent printers and eight times less than resin printers, thanks to the efficiency of LED lights compared to traditional metal halide lamps.
Ink innovation is another area of focus. Mimaki’s sign graphic and industrial printer inks are predominantly GREENGUARD Gold certified, ensuring low chemical emissions. For textiles, the company offers water-based pigment inks certified by OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT and bluesign®, meeting stringent environmental standards. Packaging improvements, such as replacing plastic ink cartridges with carton versions, have also contributed to sustainability. For example, the SS21 ink cartridge reduces annual plastic use by 29.2 tonnes and carbon emissions by 38 tonnes, with a 68% reduction in plastic use.
Sustainable Textile Printing Innovations
Mimaki has developed technologies to address the environmental impact of textile printing, focusing on reducing wastewater, energy consumption, and inefficiencies. The TRAPIS (Transfer Pigment System) is a notable innovation, offering a waterless textile printing process with significantly lower CO2 emissions. TRAPIS simplifies the printing workflow by requiring only a large-format printer and a high-pressure calender, eliminating the need for additional equipment like steaming or washing machines. This makes small-scale textile production more feasible and accessible locally.
The TRAPIS process involves Mimaki’s Textile Pigment Ink, Printing System, and Texcol transfer paper. Designs are printed onto the paper using Mimaki’s bluesign® APPROVED pigment inks and transferred onto textiles through a one-step, waterless process. Mimaki has also introduced the Neo-Chromato Process to tackle polyester textile waste, which constitutes 60% of the 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually. This decolourisation technology allows polyester textiles to be reused and reprinted, promoting a circular economy. The process can be repeated multiple times, extending the lifecycle of materials and reducing waste.
Building a Greener Future
While the printing and textile industries are making progress toward sustainability, more can be done. Technological innovations like those by Mimaki are paving the way, but global implementation remains a challenge. Regulatory pressures are driving some changes, but companies should prioritize sustainability as a core value rather than a compliance requirement. Transparency and clear communication with stakeholders are essential for fostering trust and encouraging broader adoption of eco-friendly practices.
In conclusion, the print and textile industries must continue to innovate and adopt sustainable practices to reduce their environmental impact. Companies like Mimaki are leading the charge with energy-efficient technologies, eco-friendly inks, and waste-reducing processes. However, collective efforts from manufacturers, service providers, and consumers are crucial for creating a truly sustainable future. By embracing these changes, the industry can balance profitability with environmental responsibility, ensuring a greener planet for generations to come.
By Marc Verbeem, Supervisor Product Management, Mimaki Europe
Sources: Mimaki’s internal research and UN Trade and Development report on manufacturing pollution.
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