Sustainable Printing: FSC Paper, Eco Ink and Other Choices Explained

Sustainable printing comes down to three main choices: where the paper comes from, whether it's new or recycled, and what ink is used to print it. Each choice has an impact, and none of them has to drastically change your design or your budget.

The FSC label (Forest Stewardship Council) appears on paper whose wood comes from forests managed according to strict criteria: reforestation, protection of biodiversity, and respect for local communities and working conditions. It's the most widely recognised label for paper and cardboard worldwide. For the end user, nothing changes about the quality, weight or print technique, only the certified origin of the fibre differs.

Recycled paper consists entirely or partly of reused paper fibres instead of new wood. For everyday applications such as flyers, letterhead and brochures, modern recycled paper is barely distinguishable from new paper, neither in look nor in print result. Only with very fine, high-contrast photography can new, coated paper still look a fraction sharper. For the vast majority of print work, you won't notice the difference in practice.

Traditional printing ink is often based on mineral oil, extracted from petroleum. Eco inks replace this with plant-based oils, such as soy oil, and generally contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during drying. The print result, colour intensity and drying time don't noticeably differ from regular ink, the choice lies entirely in the composition.

Besides paper and ink, the chosen printing technique also determines the environmental impact. Digital printing prints exactly the number of copies you need, with no setup waste, making it the most economical choice for small print runs. Offset becomes more efficient per copy for large print runs, once the setup cost is spread over enough copies. Read our article on offset versus digital printing for the full comparison on price, quality and print run.

You don't need to request a separate "sustainable" quote. Simply mention in your regular request that you're interested in FSC paper, recycled paper and/or eco ink, and we'll let you know which options are available for your specific print job and what the price difference, if any, is. In practice, that difference is usually minimal or non-existent.