Environmental and Health Issues and Recommendations
 Air Quality -- Low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC):
Seek out low-VOC inks and agri-based inks to reduce air pollution and promote worker safety in the print shop.  Less Hazardous:
Avoid inks containing heavy metals, such as barium, copper, and zinc. Colors to avoid include fluorescent colors, warm reds, and metallics.
See the Introduction for complete descriptions of these environmental and health issues.
See also the Printing Services section.
BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES
Before the 1960s, agri-based inks made from vegetable oils were commonplace for all printing applications. The advent of cheaper, better-performing petroleum-based inks pushed them aside, yet this market domination came at a cost both to the environment and the health of print shop workers. Today, fortunately, the return of viable agri-based inks addresses both concerns. Most newly reformulated agri-based inks can perform just as well as their more dangerous and environmentally-harmful petroleum counterparts.
Some printing inks contain hazardous materials. These range from heavy metals used in coloring to petroleum-based solvents (used to disperse pigments and accelerate the drying process). When leached into the environment, heavy metals such as barium, copper, and zinc can contaminate soil and groundwater. In addition, inks that contain petroleum solvents emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air. VOCs can be irritants for print shop workers when present in the form of vapors. They also contribute to the formation of smog.
By contrast, agri-based inks are predominately made from non-toxic soybean oil instead of petrochemicals. Typically, soy-based ink contains 20 percent to 100 percent soy oil, which is also a renewable resource. Using soy and other vegetable oils reduces VOC emissions and creates a safer work environment for print shop employees.
LAWS AND GUIDELINES
Federal and California
PERFORMANCE
As the most commonly used agri-based inks, soy-based inks offer several performance advantages over petroleum-based inks. Some printers say they result in brighter colors - a result of the greater translucency in soy inks. Using brighter colors enables the same amount of soy ink to produce more impressions (images) than the same amount of petroleum ink, which translates into a 5 percent to 50 percent increase in transfer efficiency.
Some printers also believe that soy inks are more forgiving, making it easier to run a high-quality job on older equipment. It is sometimes easier and faster to change from a dark-colored to a light-colored ink with soy than with petroleum-based inks.
Soy inks have broad applicability. They are used primarily in lithographic printing processes for newspapers, books and magazines. But soy inks are also effective for packaging, business forms, and other commercial printing applications.
AVAILABILITY
A wide variety of agri-based inks are available. In general, most ink manufacturers produce at least one line of soy-based inks. Graphic designers and printers can help you avoid inks containing heavy metals while offering alternative colors that will closely match your needs.
COST
Color and black commercial soy inks are competitively priced with petroleum-based inks. Generally, only black soy newsprint inks cost more - about 25 percent higher than petroleum-based black. However, the slightly higher cost of using soybean oil in place of petroleum is offset by the reduced amount of resin needed in colored soy ink formulation; black ink is cheaper to manufacture with petroleum because it does not use the same resins.
SPECIFICATIONS
Purchasers should specify soy-based or other agri-based inks in print jobs. Even if soy is unavailable or inappropriate for a particular print job, there are a variety of other agri-based inks, including those made from corn and canola oils.
Purchasers are also encouraged to request wax-free ink when the original document is intended to be used for imprinting. Using wax-free ink will ensure a proper bond and reduce smearing when materials are reprinted, thus reducing paper waste.
VENDORS
Many printers and ink manufacturers offer soy-based or other agri-based inks. Ask if your current vendor uses agri-based inks. For alternatives, contact the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation -- an organization that can give you a list of many vendors which are likely to use soy- or agri-based inks.
SUCCESS STORY
State of California
The State of California's Office of State Publishing was one of the first printers in California to use soy-based ink developed for sheetfed, cold-set and heat-set web printing. Now 99 percent of the ink they use is agri-based.
RESOURCES AND WEBSITES
California Air Resources Board (ARB)
The mission of the California Air Resources Board is to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering the effects on the economy of the state. A listing of California's Air Quality Management Districts is available on-line.
California Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing (OSP)
Sacramento, CA
(916) 322-1032
The OSP's mission is to provide innovative printing and communication solutions through their specialized knowledge, statewide perspective, and coordinated public and private partnership. They will enhance the economic well being and quality of life for all of their customers, employees and other business partners. Their services are available to state, federal, county and city agencies.
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) Program
The Cal/OSHA Program is responsible for enforcing California laws and regulations pertaining to workplace safety and health and for providing assistance to employers and workers about workplace safety and health issues. Contact information is available on-line.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
The DTSC's mission is to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality, by regulating hazardous waste, conducting and overseeing cleanups, and developing and promoting pollution prevention. More than 1,000 scientists, engineers and specialized support staff work in nine locations statewide.
State Water Resources Control Board
California Regional Water Quality Control Boards
There are nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Boards). The mission of the Regional Boards is to develop and enforce water quality objectives and implementation plans that will best protect the beneficial uses of the State's waters, recognizing local differences in climate, topography, geology and hydrology.
Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
Minneapolis, MN
(612) 379-3815
The ILSR is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable economic development and maintains an on-line clearinghouse of plant-based products, including vegetable-based inks. "Biochemicals for the Printing Industry," an ILSR report on vegetable-based inks and print shop solvents, includes information on cost and availability.
Printers' National Environmental Assistance Center (PNEAC)
The PNEAC is a partnership between industry, government, and university technical assistance providers serving those who interact with one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States, North America, and the world. The PNEAC's mission is to assist regulatory agencies and technical assistance providers by delivering current, reliable environmental compliance and pollution prevention information to printers, publishers, and packagers.
Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF)
PIA/GATF Headquarters
Sewickley, PA
(412) 741-6860 or (800) 910-4283
The PIA/GATF is a large graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with 1.2 million employees.
Special Note: Portions of the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Best Practices Manual were borrowed or adapted from the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board of Minnesota.
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