Peace Love Organic

I have a brother in Melbourne, Australia who runs an organic delivery business and I have done a few design projects for him in the past.

Obviously, organics and the environment are very closely linked and he requests any print work matches the company values . So using recycled paper or having t-shirts printed on organic cotton is essential to send out the right message.

So can designers become green or is upto the printers?

Here are a few questions (among others) you can ask your client and yourself before starting a design project.

1. What size does it need to be?
   If you usually print on A4 can it be reduced to A5. A smaller format can save you money and also can save paper, ink and water among other things.
2. Use recycled paper!
   This obviously reduces the need for cutting down trees as it is made from waste materials
3. How many copies do I really need?
   Try to be as accurate as possible when working out the figures. Look at previous years and see how many brochures were left over. Don’t just round up to the nearest 10,000!
4. Can I batch this with another job?
   Not only will you save money but you will reduce waste as well.
5. What printing procedure can I use?
   Ask your printer if they use soy inks, vegetable oil based inks or can provide waterless printing

Lovely as a Tree is a great place to start. It’s a website that tells you everything you need to know to be a more environmentally aware graphic designer.

Other websites providing some interesting reading are Design Can Change; a website focused on encouraging sustainable practices in the design industry and re-nourish; a designer’s resource for environmental change.

What do you do to reduce the impact on the environment in your studio?

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