Discourse- Environment

With global warming issues increasing, designers are having to face up to their responsiblities of helping to reduce waste and encourage recycling, by using sustainable resources whererever possible. A recent article in Graphic Arts magazine discusses the effect that print companies have on the world, and that few  have taken steps in improving their negative impact on the environment.

For my recent graphics brief (to produce a cereal box)  I have been looking at ways to reduce packaging and it’s effects on the environment. For the production of my box I contacted environmentally friendly printers. I discovered that in addition to using vegetable based inks, dyes and recycled papers, the printers that they use have also become less damaging to the environment, with a number trying to reduce carbon emissions.

There has been a recent trend into buying environmetally friendly, greener products. However, after researching into this market I discovered that a vast majority of these products available which make the claim to be greener, are just merely targeting those who wish to make a difference and charging them more in the process. Consumers buy these products without really questioning just how ethical these companies really are.

References

http://www.lovelyasatree.com/print_issues.htm

http://graphicartsmag.com/articles/2009/03/environmental_issues_in_print