We need to make an effort and take responsibility of the environment. Luckily, in textile printing the sustainable way is also the profitable way. When we save resources, we save money.
With digital textile print, you avoid overproduction
When we print digitally, most of the design and preparation take place in the computer using high technology software. We do not engrave templates or prepare screens, and we can easily start up small productions. We will print the number of metres you need for your project and add more metres if you need them later on.
Using the conventional printing techniques, you have to make sure to have enough, and you will always print extra, so you do not have to start all over again engraving and preparing in case of a reorder. In addition, the daily challenge by the conventional printers is fitting the repeat length. Several metres may be wasted before you are ready to embark production.
Repeat sizes have no limits in our digital printing world and this flexibility makes a very efficient print production using only the fabric you need.
No wastewater from the digital print production
Our specialty is digital print on polyester. We use the two-step transfer technique. First, we print the required pattern on transfer paper and subsequently, we transfer the pattern to the fabric at a high temperature, also called heat transfer print.
When the colorants are exposed to high temperatures, they sublime. This means that they turn from solid into a gas and vaporise into the fabric. The polyester fibres absorb the ink and settle around it. Washing or further finishing is not necessary as the sublimation process itself settles the ink in full.
We have no screens or colorant baths that need cleaning, and the digital process produces no wastewater at all. Cleaning of the print nozzles is automatic.
Read our technical guide about transfer technique and digital printing
Digital print saves energy
The equipment for digital printing uses significantly less electricity than the conventional printing machinery. Scan htp focus in every aspect on exploiting resources as efficiently as possible to minimise CO2 emission and to recycle waste.
The transfer paper is 100% organic. Subsequent to sublimation, the remains of ink on the paper are insignificant, and the paper is perfectly suitable for recycling.
Digital print consumes less ink
Today, almost all colorants are chemical, but that does not necessarily mean that they are harmful. We only use water-based ink without any solvents in our digital production.
The textile industry in general focus greatly on meeting the increasing health demands and environmental requirements. One of the desired labelling within textile products is the EU Eco-label Flower that helps the consumer identify which products are the most sustainable. This label considers the entire life cycle of the product in question and includes resource consumption, emissions, impact of raw material extractions, manufacture, usage and waste treatment.
The choice of digital textile printing is a good stride towards eco approvals of the end product. The software gives us full control of colorants to keep consumption of colorant to a minimum. In addition, we use the transfer technique that only requires a thin layer of ink on the paper for the subsequent sublimation process.
Our suppliers take care of the environment too
scan htp only work with sub suppliers that make a clear effort to protect our environment.