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Canvas Prints Embrace Sustainability

Source: Picanova

Sustainability should be a major concern for any printing company. Given the huge numbers of prints now being produced, the industry’s potential impact on the environment – either through deforestation or the use of toxic chemicals – is very significant. It’s a welcome sign, therefore, that more and more businesses are making the shift towards more sustainable practices in their daily operations.

As an established global leader in the custom print industry, Picanova’s sustainability efforts are part of its long-term vision, and are aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The company selects its partners, and sources its raw materials, in adherence to eco-friendly principles.

Picanova has the capacity to manufacture up to 500,000 products daily; its bestseller and signature product is photo prints on canvas. We discussed sustainability with one of the company’s experts, Gvido Grube, to gain an insight into what makes canvas prints an eco-friendly product and what companies can do to meet the increasing demand for eco-conscious consumerism.

A Global Impact

As a business with a global presence, Picanova is well aware that every decision it takes has effects worldwide. The company takes a unified global approach in its sustainability efforts: initiatives introduced for the company’s Australian web shop , for example, will be rolled out for its outlets in the US and Europe at the same time. Picanova’s ecological policies are conceived at the head office in Cologne, Germany.

Taking a greener approach to production starts with simple steps such as keeping printing machines well maintained. Regular servicing of the print equipment won’t just ensure more consistent print quality, it will also mean machinery lasts longer and needs to be replaced less often, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.

Canvas Prints and Sustainability

The fabric used in canvas wall art has traditionally been made from biodegradable natural fibres such as cotton and hemp, but today’s providers are more likely to use made-made fabrics or a blend. Polyester-based fabrics, such as those used at MYPICTURE.com.au and other Picanova stores, themselves have significant ecological advantages: they require limited energy to produce, and their low weight means they’re easy to transport. Polyester also has superb durability – a canvas once printed should give the buyer a lifetime of service, acting as a counterweight to our culture of disposability.

The choice of inks used for printing is crucial for any eco-conscious print firm. For its canvas prints, Picanova uses only HP latex inks, which were developed to combine the best qualities of water-based and solvent-based inks. This means they offer similar chemical stability to solvent-based inks but are non-toxic and produce no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), with obvious benefits for the environment as well as for household safety.

The eco-friendly approach extends to the company’s use of timber. As Gvido Grube says:

“Having been in business for almost two decades now, we believe we have a duty to maintain a comprehensive sustainability policy. The wood used in the stretcher frames for our canvas prints is sourced from FSC-certified forests, and we ourselves plant three trees for every one that we use.”

Recycling is equally important in reducing harm to the environment. Picanova has taken a forward-thinking approach here by using reclaimed marine plastic in the production of its external decor frames.

Custom Printing and Renewable Energy

Picanova is one of an increasing number of printing firms using renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint: the provider has installed solar panelling on some of its production facilities. Other renewables that the wider industry is moving towards include wind, hydro, and tidal.

The initial costs involved in converting to sustainable energy sources can of course be discouraging. But companies that invest in progressive solutions can expect support from environmentally aware consumers, and this can bring material rewards faster than many would think.

Grube explains:

“In today’s market, buyers have high expectations when it comes to print quality, but they also want to see real action from the producers in reducing their impact on the environment. They want to know where a company’s raw materials are sourced from, whether green energy is used, and what long-term impact their products may have on the environment. The rise of ethical consumerism will be key to developments in the custom printing industry in the coming years.”