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| Reducing platemaking chemicals |
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Plate making is, like much print and pre-press technology, changing rapidly. One of the significant environmental changes at the moment is the introduction of ways of working to reduce the processing required.
There are a number of methods of doing this: 'intelligent' or reduced chemistry processors, 'chemistry free' and 'processless' plates. All these offer environmental benefits over conventional processing: less chemical, less waste, less water and less energy. Chemicals impact the environment both in manufacture and disposal, as well as use, and waste costs will increase - so reduction is a double benefit. Water is becoming scarcer even in the UK, and treating it uses energy, which is therefore being saved both directly (through you using less) and indirectly (through reducing water and chemical use). 'Intelligent' or reduced chemistry processors use technology to extend the life of the developer, so they use less chemistry. 'Chemistry free' plates only require finishing in a small processor. Both therefore use less chemistry than conventional processing, which also means less for disposal. 'Processless' plates are developed on press, and so avoid the need for any chemistry or disposal. The Environmental Impact of a Printing Plate , a report from J Zarwan Partners, gives a more detailed description of the environmental impacts of platemaking. |
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This site has a calculator to help you work out How green are your plates?