Sustainability

Pazazz prints with environmental consciousness

We are committed to environmental responsibility and compliance.

We have adopted practices that help reduce the impact on our environment.

Certifications

Pazazz was one of the first printing companies in Quebec to receive triple Chain-of-Custody (COC) certification in environmental practices in the printing industry. Pazazz received FSC certification in January 2006 and PEFC® and SFI® certifications in June 2008.  This triple certification distinguishes Pazazz as a leader in environmental practices in the print industry.

Pazazz received a bronze award at the 2010 Environmental Print Awards (EPA) for Most Environmentally Progressive Offset Printing Project.

Paper

We promote FSC, PEFC® and SFI® certified papers, recycled papers and papers that contain 100% post-consumer fibre such as Cascades Rolland Enviro 100™.

Plate Technology

Pazazz only uses CTP (Computer to Plate) technology in the printing process. With this technology, an image is created in a Desktop Publishing application and is output directly to a printing plate providing a more efficient and less wasteful process. We work closely with Fujifilm who has been recognized and awarded for their environmental impact on plate technology. Pazazz uses the Fujifilm FLH-Z ‘ZAC’ intelligent processor with the Brillia HD LH-PJ plate to reduce chemistry usage. This processor uses the least amount of chemistry of any non-processless plate in the industry. We also use the Fuji EcoPro cleaning system which returns processor water into the environment without pollutants.

Inks & Emissions

Pazazz uses use UV and conventional inks that reduce emission patterns for volatile solvents. We promote inks that improve air quality and non-renewable resource conservation. We recycle dried waste ink scraps through a licensed industrial waste handler.

Pazazz uses conventional inks that have minimum VOC levels and contain on average 35% or more vegetable based oils. The oils are derived from renewable resources (flax plants or soybeans) and are biodegradable and nontoxic.

Pazazz uses UV inks that contain zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and zero Hazardous Airborne Particles (HAPs) while delivering outstanding quality and unparalleled effects. Our UV inks contain low levels of Alkali, Alcohol and Nitro solvents and have an excellent ink water balance which leads to less chemistry waste. (Please see the attached sheets for specifications on UV inks).

Benefits of UV Inks

There are three benefits with UV printing.

1. UV inks are more environmentally friendly
2. UV inks produce better print quality
3. UV inks are more efficient

UV inks are more environmentally friendly than conventional inks. Since UV inks cure instantly when exposed to UV light, drying time is eliminated and no solvents are released or absorbed into the substrate. The UV process releases no VOCs making it much safer for operators and the environment.

Conventional inks not only have to dry via evaporation, but up to 50% of the initial ink film applied is lost through evaporation into the atmosphere and absorption into the sheet. UV inks are not absorbed into the stock or substrate but rather remain on top of the sheet. UV printing improves ink holdout and dot gain. The result is a more vibrant print and visual effect.

UV inks are fully recyclable. UV inks do not stick to the rollers like conventional inks and therefore can be washed up with less aggressive solvents. The UV printing process yields less ink and washup waste than conventional print since there isn't any waste from incidental drying.

UV Inks have excellent colour value. In-line UV printing is known for its rich and vibrant colours and the spectacular results it can achieve on difficult substrates. UV inks are an exceptionally good choice for four-colour process graphic printing on coated and uncoated stock. With UV capability, we can dry trap the inks which produces a cleaner and sharper dot fidelity and better ink holdout especially with uncoated stocks.   Because UV inks cure immediately, they can print at higher ink densities with better trapping.   Ranging in opacity from transparent to translucent, the results are a cleaner wider color gamut.

In-line UV printing is ideal for difficult jobs that typically require two passes on the press. The result is perfect registration and less energy used to achieve a spectacular outcome.

We can print UV on a broad range of paper and synthetic substrates including recyclable and biodegradable plastics, static cling, vinyl, styrene, lenticular, foil flute and board, (80 lbs to 48 pts). With UV inks we can produce special effects such as strikethrough, soft touch and scents.

Other important advantages of UV’s instant drying include immediate throughput, faster turnaround and higher productivity, even on two sided jobs. The ability to "lay down" layers of opaque white or metallic, and then print over it in a single pass, merely hints at the versatility and the energy savings of the UV process. Also, when UV printing is complete, the press sheets are dry and can be sent directly to bindery without marking or smudging the image on finishing equipment.