Ignorance and bamboo

by FESPA | 30/05/2017
Ignorance and bamboo

It’s not unusual to encounter examples of environmental ignorance or to hear alarming comments from people who should know better.

We experienced both in a recent meeting whilst discussing the need for environmental standards in the graphics industry.

We were told in no uncertain terms that environmental science is really very simple. We were also told that there is a finite amount of carbon dioxide on the planet and that the amount of it won’t expand or diminish. Really?

That representatives of the paper industry have such a view is worrying, since one of the arguments for print is that it is based on renewable resources that use carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as part of their respiratory processes. But the encounter serves to demonstrate a useful reality. Even in the paper business there is still an entrenched lack of awareness of the issues shaping the sustainability of print.

The reality is that ignorance accounts for many impediments to progress and the embrace of new approaches in the graphics business. Digital communications posed a threat to print until people started to see how digital media and print can cohabit quite well.

That threat is no longer perceived as being so serious. Also, paper use rises as economies develop and consumerism spreads. Both of these facts should encourage the traditional paper industry but it must surely be looking beyond the conventional wood based model. The industry needs new ideas for paper that may be even more beneficial for the planet.

One option is to use bamboo as a raw material for paper making. Bamboo is an environmentally desirable resource for paper-making. It can grow at up to one metre per day reaching maturity in three to five years, making bamboo the fastest growing plant on the planet.

It grows back after harvest within a few months and thrives in poor soils and on hostile terrains where not much else will grow. Its root structures spread wide so it can help prevent soil erosion and it grows and can be processed in places that are economically depressed and vulnerable.

Bamboo based papers with acceptable brightness, strength and printability qualities compared to wood pulp based papers are coming onto the market. However, their environmental impact has yet to be established.

The nuances of carbon capture or the complexities of environmental science may not be universally appreciated. But professionals in the paper industry should try to keep up because the industry must keep up with its markets. There is no other option so like growing older, it has to be accepted. The alternative is even less desirable.

by FESPA Back to News

Topics

Interested in joining our community?

Enquire today about joining your local FESPA Association or FESPA Direct

Enquire Today

Recent news

Driving on-demand printed textile production with Prinfab
Textile Printing

Driving on-demand printed textile production with Prinfab

Debbie McKeegan speaks to Prinfab's co-founders, Oliver and Harry Mustoe-Playfair during a site visit about their on-demand digital textile printing. Oliver and Harry share that sustainability is an important factor of the business as well as technical innovation, automation and the need for customer centric service.

31-10-2024
Girls Who Print 2024 Conference to celebrate Girl Power
Digital Printing

Girls Who Print 2024 Conference to celebrate Girl Power

Girls Who Print invites women in the printing industry, students, and allies to join the 12th annual Girls Who Print Day 2024, a FREE virtual conference celebrating resilience, innovation, and empowerment under the theme #GirlPower.

30-10-2024
FESPA Awards - excellence in garment and textiles
Textile Printing

FESPA Awards - excellence in garment and textiles

FESPA Awards 2023 celebrated excellence in both print and signage and exceptional pieces garment and textile sectors. The awards recognised innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability.

28-10-2024
WrapFest 2024 revs-up the vehicle customisation industry
Vehicle wrapping

WrapFest 2024 revs-up the vehicle customisation industry

Earlier this month, WrapFest 2024 concluded another successful event, energising the vehicle customisation and surface decoration industry once again. As the only event bringing together over 700 professionals in the vehicle wrapping and surface detailing sectors across 25 countries, WrapFest 2024 offered something for everyone with an eye on the industry.

28-10-2024