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| Posted on 3/19/08 at 04:51 PM | |
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Hi there everyone! With all the talk about being green, and most shops claiming to be green are using water-based ink, has anyone thought about what they may be doing to the environment by rendering water based emulsion NON-biodegradable? Even though we filter what goes down the drain, we all know that NO filter can get rid of everything. So, if we add a CHEMICAL to our biodegradable emulsion to harden it, ruining it's once sort of eco-friendly status all in the name of using "eco-friendly water-based ink" are we not just screwing the environment in a more fashionable way? Then we can look at what it takes to cure water-based ink... It takes longer, people. So, you are using more energy. ...And isn't water something we are supposed to conserve as one of our most precious natural resources? I am not saying that plastisol is perfect, but there are companies out there that are hard at work coming up with ways to keep us safer by regulating themselves. Just like they did so many years ago by eliminating lead from ink. They will soon come up with something that can take all of the politics out of the whole precess of screen printing so we can get back to creating art. Before anyone decides whether or not to use one ink or another, consider this: Water based ink companies were losing market share until they convinced people they could go green with their inks... Call me crazy, but we need to look at the big picture not just one aspect of our whole process. Every product you use has an impact on the environment, good or bad. The trick is to try and be as responsible as you can with what you are using. I will continue to use plastisol ink, even though I have used water based. I have found that when I look at the entire process from start to finish, I have more products at my disposal to use that are safer for me and those who work with me and the earth when I use plastisol ink. Just for the record, I dont work for "Big Plastisol" or anything : ) I am not claiming to know it all, but there are some things that were really bothering me about the whole green debate. I sure am glad that there is a forum to discuss this. happy printing everybody! -Monica | ||
 
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