As more and more businesses are becoming conscious of their impact on the environment, it's essential to find sustainable solutions that can reduce waste, emissions, and energy consumption. In a recent survey that we sent out to printers, we found that over 40% of brands are starting to push back on single-use plastics, such as lamination. This is where coating comes into play. Coating is an eco-friendly and biodegradable alternative to lamination, with several advantages that can benefit your print business, your customer, and the planet.
First, let's review what lamination and coating are.
Lamination is a process that involves applying a plastic film to a printed material, typically using heat and pressure. Lamination can improve the durability, gloss, and protection of a print. The lamination film is often made of non-renewable and non-biodegradable materials, such as PVC, which can contribute to the pollution of landfills and oceans.
Coating, on the other hand, is a process that involves applying a liquid or powder layer to a printed material, without the need for film or heat. Coating can achieve similar results to lamination, but with less waste and emissions. Some advantages that coating has over lamination include:
Coating can be made of renewable and biodegradable materials, such as water-based chemistries, natural resins, or plant-based polymers. These materials can also be designed to decompose naturally in the environment, without releasing harmful toxins or microplastics.
Coating can reduce the need for additional materials and equipment, which can save resources and energy. Coating machines do not use as much heat, thus using less energy to run. Additionally, coating can be up to 6x faster, increasing throughput.
Coating can enhance the recyclability and biodegradability of printed materials. This is incredibly important as countries and brands look to eco-friendly alternatives, and start to push back on single-use-plastics; lamination falls under this umbrella.
Overall, coating can help you reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment by providing an eco-friendly and biodegradable alternative to lamination. Coating can also add value to your prints by improving their sustainability, appearance, and durability, all while providing a greener option for customers.
Ready to learn more? Reach out to us at sales@harris-bruno.com, and let us know how we can help you #CoatWithConfidence.