In a single year, Yale Printing & Publishing Services saved 340,000 gallons of water, slashed energy use by nearly 20%, cut 8.5 tons of CO₂ emissions and repurposed 18,000 plastic bottles – proof that sustainable printing can make an outsized impact.

Sara Cardinal, large format specialist at Yale Printing & Publishing Services, trims a poster printed on fabric made from recycled plastic bottles. (photo courtesy of Robert DeSanto)

Here are some key takeaways explaining how the facility made the switch.

• Yale Printing & Publishing Services switched to Green Valutex, a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles, to produce research posters.
• Staff tested the new material extensively for durability, color accuracy and print quality, ensuring it met the standards of faculty and researchers. The fabric posters are flexible, foldable and can be steamed, unlike rigid board versions.
• The initiative was incorporated into the in-plant’s regular workflow, with each square meter of fabric using about 12 discarded bottles, turning every poster into a sustainability success story.
• The poster program is part of Yale’s larger commitment to sustainability, which includes using FSC-certified papers and adding an electric cargo van. The shop has earned back-to-back Green Service Awards from the Association of College and University Printers.

Read the full story on In-plant Impressions, a publication of PRINTING United Alliance, ASI’s strategic content partner.

Read more on In-plant Impressions.

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