“We all need to do our bit, whether it’s little things like having timer switches on lights, utilising delivery runs to eliminate doubling up, making sure we use recycled stocks wherever possible or separating clean waste from inked waste. Manark uses dozens of water, power and waste-minimising techniques every day. ”
Tony Knight, Managing Director, Manark Printing

In the mid-nineties Tony Knight turned green. You may be thinking The Hulk at this point but in reality Tony simply believed in being in environmentally conscious.

‘As the owner of Manark, I knew it had to begin with me,’ says Tony. ‘I wanted to make positive change whileproving to clients that green can be cost effective.’

Machinery, paper stocks, inks and chemicals – the works were overhauled. Today Manark’s main policy is on waste reduction, which in turn creates efficiency. We are always looking for new eco-friendly products and ways to save energy, with a line of equipment in place geared towards a greener future. Our belief is that quality printing can be produced in an eco-friendly manner, by reducing waste and using alternative materials.

Manark’s press-rooms mainly run on AC powered presses, saving up to 40% more power than conventional presses and in turn, emitting less greenhouse gas. Quality is not compromised however, with the presses capable of producing extremely fine screens and some of the heaviest solids of colour printable.

All of our inks are vegetable/soy based, with the exception of some UV coatings. Printing with Hexachrome inks is another example of our eco-friendly ways.

Manark’s water-based aqueous coatings are amongst the most environmentally friendly finishes available, with waste tested in the South East Water laboratories deemed safe enough to go directly into the stormwater!

Paper choice is important too so we encourage our clients to choose EMAS, TCF, ECF, PCF, FSC, recycled or neutral pH stocks (to mention but a few) – generally any sheet that has gained environmental accreditation. We even know of a paper derived from stone (yes you read right, stone!)

And when it’s time to deliver Manark can use recycled plastic for bagging, complete with recycled logo.