Nearly 2000 years ago, the Chinese first used the process of screen printing to create stenciled images. Their process would be considered relatively eco-friendly by today’s standards since they used human hair to create the screen and stencils made of leaves. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that screen printing evolved to allow for the creation of multicolored prints (with one screen), leading to mass manufacturing of signs, posters, t-shirts, and more. And these days, the process is largely computerized, making it almost unrecognizable from the original technique. Unfortunately, this has also led to an increase of both pollution and waste in the process. But if you’re interested in creating your own screen printing setup and you want to go about it in an eco-conscious manner, here are just a few techniques you may want to try.
First you should look at the equipment you’re using. In most cases, frames and screens can easily be made reusable. Frames are simple enough; you just have to make them with hinges and a latch so that you can open them to add or remove the screen. Of course this may necessitate the use of stiffer screen material, or some kind of apparatus to stretch the screen while you secure the frame around it, but it will ensure that the frames get recycled rather than disposed of. As for the screens themselves, you may be used to the modern variety, on which a photosensitive material is used to block out the image to be printed. Unfortunately, this means that you can only print the image on the screen, so that it can’t exactly be recycled (although you can use it to make the same print over and over again). By going old school and creating stencils, you can use the same screen for multiple graphics. You may suffer some bleed from this technique if the screen and stencil aren’t rigidly secured, but you can address the problem by fitting them both in the frame.
Next you’ll need to look into the types of ink available to you. Although chemical dyes tend to adhere the best and set better, you can definitely find low- or no-impact dyes and chemical-free inks on the market. Soy-based inks that are used in the creation of eco-friendly paper products are a safe bet, as are non-toxic dyes made from minerals, plants, and clay (or other natural Earth elements like ash, for example), many of which you can make on your own. But you can also opt for low-impact synthetic dyes. Although they do have some chemicals, they require less water waste to manufacture and they release fewer pollutants through washing. In addition, they may bond better with fibers than natural dyes.
Finally, you’ll want to consider the materials you’re printing on. When it comes to paper, use 100% PCW products, recycle paper from around the house, or simply create your own from other recycled materials (like jeans). As for fabric, think about purchasing organic textiles like cotton, hemp, and bamboo, or opting for wools and silks that are humanely treated. There are all kinds of ways to green up the screen printing process, so armed with the knowledge to do so, you should be creating gorgeous and eco-friendly graphic prints in no time.
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