Sustainability

The environment is important to all of us. We have a responsibility to limit waste and practice sustainability. At Art Printer we take that seriously and do our best for the sake of our planet!

Creating high-quality fine art paper tailored for drawing, photography and painting necessitates the use of premium materials to guarantee durability, archival quality, and aesthetic appeal.

Like all production and consumption activities, this process has environmental consequences. Nevertheless, the primary resources utilized in fine art paper production can generally be categorized as ethically sourced.

Cotton Paper

Cotton plants require vast amounts of water, and in some places around the world, have been known to drain rivers for farming. That said, the fibres used in cotton paper production are a by-product of the textile industry and would most likely otherwise go to landfill.

The cotton linters used in cylinder mould-made paper are taken from cotton seeds following ginning; the process undertaken to extract longer cotton fibres, used for making textiles. What remains on the seed after this process is too short to be used for this purpose which is why they are classed as a pre-consumer waste.

Handmade cotton rag papers are made from post consumer fibres, such as old t-shirts. They have the potential to achieve the lowest carbon footprint during production. For instance, the pulp of Jackson’s Eco paper is dried slowly in the sun, and the water used to turn the rags into pulp is run off to irrigate the fields neighbouring the papermaking factory. Because cotton paper pulp is naturally pH neutral the water does not impact upon the surrounding environment.

Our cotton print media includes:

  • Natural Canvas: 100% unbleached cotton

  • Satin & Gloss Canvas: 35% cotton & 65% polyester blend

  • Canson Platine Fibre Rag: 100% cotton

  • Hahnmeühle Photo Rag Metallic: 100% cotton

  • Entrada Rag Bright: 100% cotton

  • Entrada Rag Natural: 100% cotton

Wood Paper

It’s easy to automatically think that cutting down trees is not particularly kind to the environment. However the majority of trees used to make paper are farmed and sustainable. The trees you find in a tropical rainforest are not suitable, so papermaking does not contribute to their destruction. Trees for papermaking are grown specifically for purpose, in a way that ensures consistent supply. The wonderful by-product of this is the rate of photosynthesis that these farmed trees are capable of, feeding off carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and combining it with sunlight and water to feed itself with sugar, and to feed the air, and us, oxygen. Without growing trees for papermaking we would inevitably reduce the number of trees being planted and also consequently the rate of photosynthesis.

Our wood print media includes:

  • Moenkopi Kozo Rice Paper: Kozo (Mulberry) fiber

  • Lasal Exhibition Luster: 100% Alpha Celulose (wood pulp)

  • Lasal Photo Matte: Alpha Celulose (Pulp/Acid and Lignin- Free

Recycled Paper

Virgin paper production and paper recycling are fully dependent on one another, as this allows production to remain sustainable. It is not possible to only use recycled pulp for fine art use, because the re-pulping process necessary when recycling can shorten the fibres, reducing the strength of the end product. Additionally, when making recycled paper, there is very little certainty of the various chemicals that might be present in the pulp.

Paper that has had a previous life serving non-fine art purposes is likely to contain lignins or bleaches which will prevent the resulting paper from being archival. When recycled fibres have been used to make drawing paper, some virgin pulp has to be added to compensate for the fibres that are no longer usable as well as to minimise the percentage of impurities. Additionally, recycled paper requires additional processes such as de-inking, degreasing and the removal of additives.

Each of these comes with its own set of challenges, whether it’s the toxic sludge accumulated from de-inking or the undermining of the strength of the end product as a result of grease in the pulp. Ultimately, these problems can only be solved with solutions that require more energy and more chemicals. This is another reason why recycled paper isn’t always the most environmentally friendly choice.

Is Paper Vegan?

Most papers are sized – that means, a substance is added to pulp in production to control the absorbency of the paper, optimising its properties for drawing and painting. This is most commonly done with a chemical called alkyl ketene dimer. Only some papers are externally, or tub sized. This is an additional process that strengthens paper, and this is when gelatine (or sometimes a plant-based alternative) is used. Gelatine is made of collagen extracted from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals. In the case of fine art papers this gelatine sizing comes from cows, and is a by-product of the meat industry.

Even if only plant-based and synthetic additives are used to size paper, it doesn’t always mean that it can unequivocally be classified as vegan, as most papers come into contact with woollen felts during the sheet formation process. When synthetic felts are used instead, the surface texture of the paper is much more regular, more mechanical looking and generally considered less attractive. As well as this, there is the added concern of those felts gradually releasing micro-plastics as they inevitably wear with use.

Overall, the production of fine art papers does not have a big ecological impact in comparison to the production of other papers, such as packaging or printer paper. Thankfully, because it is hard-wearing and made to last, we can use it and value it for longer.

Ink

Art Printer uses Canon aqueous water-based ink and Epson eco solvent inks.

Water-based ink is a type of ink that uses water as the primary solvent. The technology has significantly evolved over the years and offers high-quality prints and easier use. As water-based ink increases in popularity, it is also becoming an alternative to plastisol as the ink of choice. Benefits include:

  • Versatile

  • Longer lasting

  • High-detail prints

  • Better breathability

  • Better for the environment

Eco-solvent inks have colours which are suspended in a mild biodegradable solvent, which means that the ink has virtually no odour as they don’t contain as many volatile organic compounds. Benefits include:

  • Quality

  • Resilient

  • Established use

  • Low environmental impact

  • Adaptability - can be used on wide range of substrates

Other Daily Practices

  • Each team member has signed a pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle. They have signed off that they willl do their best to minimize waste and find opportunities to be environmental friendly.

  • We use the core of our paper rolls as shipping tubes and reuse shipping boxes.

    • Our shipping packages are reused sometimes so they aren’t always beautiful, but the prints are safe! We don’t add any extra unnecessary fliers, stickers etc.

  • Scrap media is used for test prints prints, color matching, our business cards and signage for our studio. We also donate extra sample rolls we have to artist, after school programs, and schools.

  • Wherever possible, we turn off electronics when not in use like screen monitors and lights.

  • We limit extra packaging where possible, and encourage our clients to bring their own portfolios when they pick up.