Up until recently, the printing industry has used petroleum-based inks, which have two primary environmental drawbacks. First, they are made using a non-renewable resource (petroleum). Second, petroleum-based inks release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); VOCs reduce indoor air quality and can have negative short- and long-term health effects. Fortunately, an environmentally responsible alternative is available: soy inks, which are derived from soy beans. This alternative was originally developed for use in newspaper printing, but has spread to the printing of other items, such as your business cards, marketing collateral, and product catalogs.

So what are the actual benefits of using soy inks instead of petroleum-based inks? And, how will it affect the colors on your printed piece?
Soy inks are more sustainable - they come from a renewable resource, unlike petroleum
Soy inks are more environmentally friendly - some actually release zero VOCs (this is what we use at colorworx)
Paper printed with soy inks can be deinked more easily, making it easier to recycle
Spot colors are available, so you can still get the exact color you need in your logo
You actually get colors that are brighter and more vivid - and pop!

What does this mean for you? This is a simple but important step in greening your printing. Make sure that all of your printing is done using soy inks. You'll still get the great color that you want (except for fluorescent and metallic colors, which are petroleum-based), but with twice the environmental benefit - fewer emissions during the production process, and the paper will be easier to recycle afterwards. Now, what can be easier than that?