Reeds Printers use only vegetable-based printing inks as part of our ongoing commitment to the environment.

Conventional printing inks are petroleum-based and used with alcohol-based solvents which, as they evaporate, emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. VOCs cause environmental pollution and are a health hazard to pressroom workers as well as creating ozone pollution. Petroleum-based inks emit between 25% and 40% VOCs as they dry, whereas vegetable-based ink emissions rates can be as low as 4%.

Petroleum-based inks contain products refined from crude oil and the energy required for extraction, refining and treatment for this is high which adds to the environmental damage. Crude oil is also a fossil fuel , resources of which are dwindling very fast. Vegetable oil based inks, on the other hand, are derived from renewable resources.

Vegetable based inks also have the added benefit of being easier to remove from recycled paper and print during the de-inking process of recycling.