Whether you want banners to advertise your business, are attending a trade show, or need textile and fabric printing for any other purpose, you’ll want a quality product and results and also fabrics and textiles that are sustainable and eco-friendly. When it comes to printable fabric, Australia has loads of options. Let’s learn more about eco-friendly, sustainable fabrics and textile printing.
Why Sustainable Textile Printing Is Important
All businesses are under pressure in the modern world to develop and practice sustainability as much as possible and the printing and textile trade is no different. Whether you’re a customer, a textiles supplier or a printing house, everyone needs to be willing to play a role in preserving the planet and its vital resources.
All the little things everyone does seriously start to add up over time and with more and more people expecting eco-friendly business practices these days, demonstrating sustainability in business is also good for the brand’s reputation and a profitable future.
Choose a Material That Will Last
When deciding on textiles and fabrics to be printed on, it only makes sense to choose something that’s going to last. Not only will you get more value and use out of it, but it also means fewer materials being used for printing purposes; meaning long-lasting fabrics are naturally more eco-friendly in this regard.
If your printing needs call for a banner or other type of printing display to last for a long time, then you can do your part by taking the time to select a fabric that is robust and enduring. Many of the textiles made from woven polyester are long-lasting, such as the Samba Opaque. It’s even airtight and watertight and is compatible with both latex and UV printing methods.
Select a Fabric That Is Recyclable
Another important consideration when selecting the right fabric is whether the material is recyclable. The ability to recycle is one of the most obvious and best ways to contribute to sustainability.
For example, if you were to have a banner or flag made from Air Tricot Flag material, one of this textile’s standout features is that it is 100% recyclable. The fabric is durable with high resistance to tearing, it won’t fray and it’s fire retardant. It’s also a lightweight textile that produces a high-quality printed finish. It is dye sublimation, latex and UV printing compatible.
Further to recycling, you can also choose materials for printing that have been manufactured from recycled fabrics or textiles.
What Type Of Textile Printing Is Kindest To the Environment?
After you’ve chosen a suitable material for your needs, it will be time to have it printed. The large format printing industry has also made changes to become more environmentally-friendly. Being more sustainable isn’t just up to the textile manufacturers and sellers. As printing on those materials is part of the process, printers have had to adapt new technology and printing methods. Modern printers use less electricity, operate at a lower heat and also use a variety of inks and printing processes that are far more eco-friendly than those of the past.
Note that even though some changes have been made, this hasn’t reduced print quality. In fact, the opposite is true. The sharp imagery of modern textile printing is the best it’s ever been.
Latex printing is one of the most popular printing methods around. It’s a technology that allows banners and other printed materials to be recyclable. The good news is that latex ink can be used on both synthetic and natural fabrics with incredible detail.
Dye sublimation printing is another process that is very popular and eco-friendly. The results are photo-like quality. First, the image is printed onto screen paper, after which it is pressed onto the fabric.
UV printing is another excellent choice. With this large format printing method, UV technology is used to sublimate the ink to the substrate. It’s very eco-friendly and the ink will adhere to virtually any surface.
The Wrap
As a customer, to play your part in making textile printing more sustainable, choose fabrics and printing methods that offer the most eco-friendly options. Talk to your suppliers about the best options available for your project and the most environmentally-friendly way of getting the job done.