Safety and sustainability are two of the most vital things for consumers today. They want to be sure the products they use are safe and won’t cause damage to the environment. As a result, businesses need to think carefully about what they are doing. This goes all the way down to tiny details like how to decorate products, packaging, and marketing materials. We recommend hot foil stamping and foiling services in general here; they can tick all the right boxes, including aesthetics as well as recyclability.
Clearing up misconceptions
While we know the benefits of foil, there are still a number of misconceptions about using it, particularly when it comes to safety and sustainability. So, let’s debunk them.
Solvents
Firstly, one of the major worries is foiling requires the use of hazardous solvents. People are more conscious of them today. They can pose a risk to humans, particularly workers, leading to irritation, nausea, headaches, or organ damage and death in the most extreme cases. There is also a risk to the environment; solvent pollution can harm waterways and destroy ecosystems.
While solvents are necessary for many types of foil, there have been huge improvements. For example, leading manufacturers like Kurz are very careful and choose substances that don’t pose a risk to people or the environment. In addition, there has been a lot of work to develop safer and solvent-free options. All of this means foiling services are much safer today.
Sustainability
The other big misconception is that adding foil to a product means it is no longer safe to recycle. To be honest, there are grounds for this. Some decorations, including film coatings and heavy inks, do cause problems for recycling. They can clog machinery and have a big impact on the quality of the recycled material.
However, the key thing to keep in mind is high quality foils remain completely recyclable. As long as the material you begin with is safe to recycle, including paper labels or cardboard boxes, the foil won’t affect it. Remember, foils are incredibly thin. As a result, they won’t cause problems for machinery. There is also no significant impact on the quality of the recycled materials.
Plus, it’s worth remembering that you can use a lot of foil to decorate products without causing problems for sustainability. Kurz has done a lot of testing here. They proved that even as much as 70% foil does not affect recyclability. Therefore, it opens the door for more creative designs.
Talk to us about foiling services
Now we’ve had a closer look at foiling and the fact it is safe and sustainable, are you considering it for your next project? If so, you can rely on us. We’re one of the top experts in the UK. We have fantastic foils from leading brands, including Kurz. They are a great choice for various needs, including packaging, marketing materials, and more.
So, if you want to discuss foiling services with us, please get in touch. We’d be happy to help, and can offer suggestions to match your goals, including sustainability.