Soy Ink vs. Petroleum-Based Ink for Eco-Friendly Business Cards
February 14th, 2012 by admin
You have options when it comes to the ink used in the printing of your business cards; there is the traditional petroleum-based ink, or there is soy ink. Soy ink is quickly becoming the go-to choice of environmentally friendly business people, since it does not contain hazardous substances, and therefore can produce eco-friendly business cards. Each of these two options has unique advantages and disadvantages.
Price is something that needs to be considered early on. Petroleum-based ink is cheaper than soy ink—always an attractive feature. Petroleum-based ink also dries faster, due to evaporative solvents within the ink, which release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are known to be harmful to our planet; the time saved may not be worth the overall cost to the environment.
Petroleum-based ink, as you can infer from the name, is made from petroleum, which is not a renewable resource. Soy ink is a more sustainable option, produced from a renewable resource—soybeans. Soy ink is also a more environmentally friendly option; it releases little or no VOCs, keeping pollution to a minimum. Recycling is simpler with soy ink because it is easier to remove from paper than petroleum-based ink.
Soy ink is naturally clearer than petroleum based ink; this results in more brightly colored ink. You can still get the exact colors you need for your business card when using soy ink rather than petroleum-based ink. Because the oil from soybeans used in the fabrication of soy ink is naturally clear, less ink is needed in the production of goods, ultimately resulting in a reduction of the cost of ink.
All Business Cards is an environmentally responsible company, so we use soy ink on all of our products. When purchasing new business cards, go the green route. The advantages of using soy ink far outweigh those of using petroleum-based inks. Eco-friendly business cards are a way to gain and give back at the same time.
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