CHO!CE
My wife believes that all the little things we do, or don't do, make a difference. So when it comes to screen printing posters, I've intentionally integrated this ideology into my process to reduce the environmental impact.
The Good Stuff
The Speedball screen printing inks and supplies I use are manufactured in Statesville, North Carolina. All inks carry the AP Seal and clean up easily with soap and water. The house stock paper, Cougar Opaque, is made in Rothschild, Wisconsin and all colored papers are from the French Paper CO in Niles , Michigan. For over a century, French Paper has powered its entire mill with 100% renewable hydroelectric energy from their onsite plant. All papers are FSC Certified.
The Speedball screen printing inks and supplies I use are manufactured in Statesville, North Carolina. All inks carry the AP Seal and clean up easily with soap and water. The house stock paper, Cougar Opaque, is made in Rothschild, Wisconsin and all colored papers are from the French Paper CO in Niles , Michigan. For over a century, French Paper has powered its entire mill with 100% renewable hydroelectric energy from their onsite plant. All papers are FSC Certified.
Reduce
Every light in the studio is LED, including retrofitting a 1980's 220V exposure unit with linkable UV LEDS that used a 6000W bulb. Paper towels are only used when 100% necessary, instead using wet rags and dry towels to take care of inky fingers. I created a DIY filtration system for the washout booth to help keep chunks of ink and emulsion out of the water system. The toilet has a low flush option and overall only about 1 kitchen size bag of trash is taken out every 2 weeks.
Every light in the studio is LED, including retrofitting a 1980's 220V exposure unit with linkable UV LEDS that used a 6000W bulb. Paper towels are only used when 100% necessary, instead using wet rags and dry towels to take care of inky fingers. I created a DIY filtration system for the washout booth to help keep chunks of ink and emulsion out of the water system. The toilet has a low flush option and overall only about 1 kitchen size bag of trash is taken out every 2 weeks.
Reuse or Recycle
95% of cardboard boxes that come in, go out as packing materials and every scrap of paper that is too small to be used, goes into the recycling bin. The film used to expose screens is dropped off at a nearby Sprouts Market to be taken to their recycling warehouse. All the exhibits reuse frames, no plastics are used at events, and cups/napkins are compostable or recyclable. My favorite repurposed item is the exposure room has a pocket door made out of old screen printing screens. It's cool.
95% of cardboard boxes that come in, go out as packing materials and every scrap of paper that is too small to be used, goes into the recycling bin. The film used to expose screens is dropped off at a nearby Sprouts Market to be taken to their recycling warehouse. All the exhibits reuse frames, no plastics are used at events, and cups/napkins are compostable or recyclable. My favorite repurposed item is the exposure room has a pocket door made out of old screen printing screens. It's cool.
Am I perfect?
Nope. I still have moments where something purchased has packaging that can't be reused or recycled and ends up in a landfill. There's also a foil paper that's requested for gig posters that has a metallic coating - so all the trimmed edges can't be recycled. But I continue to seek out ways, even though at times minor, that the studio can be a good steward of the Earth. Sure it takes time to do the research - but reckon it's my responsibility as a business owner to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, even when it's not convenient or costs a little extra.
Nope. I still have moments where something purchased has packaging that can't be reused or recycled and ends up in a landfill. There's also a foil paper that's requested for gig posters that has a metallic coating - so all the trimmed edges can't be recycled. But I continue to seek out ways, even though at times minor, that the studio can be a good steward of the Earth. Sure it takes time to do the research - but reckon it's my responsibility as a business owner to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, even when it's not convenient or costs a little extra.
