Trends in the print industry are critical to pay attention to, because in many cases they serve as opportunities to become more efficient, effective and generate more sales. But in some cases the trends are extremely important to society. For example, sustainable printing!
Sustainable printing trends have had incremental growth over the years, but in 2023 more and more print service providers are committing to a cleaner and more environmentally friendly print operation.

In this article we’re sharing a handful of the top sustainable printing trends for 2023.

Sustainable Printing Trend #1 – LED UV Spot Coating & Drying

UV coating & drying is one of the best ways to produce a high quality print, but another great thing about it is that using LED in the process makes it eco-friendly as the process uses less energy than alternative methods.

Sustainable Printing Trend #2 – Making the Switch to Organic Inks

If you’re someone who prioritizes environmental sustainability (we know you are), it’s important for you to know that traditional print inks are often made with petroleum and can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to the environment. Moreover, these inks can pose a threat to the health of your employees if not handled properly. However, by choosing to use organic inks made from natural compounds like canola, soy, or linseed oils, you can reduce your environmental impact and promote safer working conditions. Switching to these safer inks can also help you lower your carbon footprint, which is a crucial step towards mitigating climate change. This is an easy trend shops are taking advantage of.

Sustainable Printing Trend #3 – Operational Water Reduction

When you’re using inks to print it’s inevitable that there will be clean up involved. Equipment gets dirty, using offset for example, you have rollers and pans that need to be cleaned. By utilizing efficient equipment and supplemental products such as drip trays you are able to reduce the amount of water used across the operation, which is much better for the environment.

Sustainable Printing Trend #4 – Using Recycled Paper

Ideally for any paper that you are currently using it is able to be recycled, but to take things a step further, try using already recycled paper in your print production. This heavily reduces paper waste and ensures your print service is highly sustainable.

These are becoming more and more popular each year and in 2023 these sustainable printing trends will dominate initiatives within print shops across the country. Does your print & marketing partner manage a sustainable operation? If not you may want to consider working with a company that not only produces high quality work, but cares about the environment.