Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids, such as paint and paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials, furnishings, copiers and printers, adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), common human reactions to VOCs include eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system, so in other words - they’re not good for us! Wherever possible, 4OVER4 uses green materials and production processes to minimize VOCs. Here are some of the steps we are taking to be good stewards of the environment. Eliminated alcohol-based products. Switched to vegetable-oil-based, water-soluble washes for cleaning presses, which are free from VOC-producing petroleum solvents and can reduce VOCs by up to 90%.
We use inks that are vegetable-based and environmentally friendly. Such inks have little or no mineral oil content. Most frequently, we use soy-based inks which come from the soybean crop. Soybeans require little energy in the growing and harvesting process. For example, the crops do not need to be irrigated so they conserve water. Soy ink does not give off VOCs and in fact, soybean plants remove greenhouse gases. Soy-based inks, in combination with our wide selection of recycled paper stock, make us a leader in green printing and sustainability. The mission of 4OVER4 is to serve the printing needs of businesses and individuals by providing high-quality green printing services while meeting the highest standards for sustainability and environmental responsibility within the printing industry