Most businesses are working to balance innovation and sustainability. So, the environmental impact of their processes and materials is becoming a bigger consideration. Stamping foil has both functional and aesthetic uses. Due to this, it has become popular across many industries. Even so, concerns relating to environmental footprint are still a topic of interest. We want to look at this today and mention why sustainable foils are a great choice.
Environmental advantages
Stamping foil comes with multiple environmental advantages. These place it as an eco-friendly choice.
For one thing, it’s recyclable. When applied to board or paper, the foil is so thin that, during the re-pulping process, it dissipates. So, products with foil are entirely recyclable. This contributes to waste reduction and supporting sustainable solutions in many industries.
Another environmental benefit is the compostability. You’re working with a fully compostable material here. In composting settings, the foil is able to break down. It leaves minimal to no residual material behind. Therefore, it’s a fantastic alternative to less eco-friendly options.
Lastly, there is the waste minimisation. Efforts to lower waste during the production process include providing foil in custom sizes. This is to stop you discarding excess material. Furthermore, you can repurpose any unavoidable waste foil. It further lowers the environmental impact. Plus, there are some sustainable foils where even the plastic carrier film is recyclable.
Comparisons to other materials
Next, we’ll look at how stamping foil compares to other materials. It does tend to be confused with other decorative products. Yet, it provides a more sustainable alternative to the likes of glitter and laminate film. Both pose substantial environmental challenges.
If you look at laminate film, it usually includes a base metal like OPP or polyester (PET) adhered to board or paper. Once applied, you can’t easily separate the laminate from the substrate. Thus, recycling is tricky. Stamping foil though is recyclable. So, there’s a more sustainable end-of-life scenario.
Traditional glitter is a mix of plastic and aluminium. This results in countless micro plastics that lead to pollution in oceans and landfills. Stamping foil provides a more environmentally friendly solution. There’s similar visual appeal without the damaging long-term effects.
Sustainable production
With the production of sustainable foils, there have been efforts to lower the environmental impact. They’ve extended to how we manufacture and dispose of the substance. It’s possible to collect and repurpose foil waste for alternative uses like Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF). It won’t go to the landfills. Such an approach lowers landfill waste whilst supporting energy production. It does so by replacing the usage of fossil fuels with more sustainable options.
By changing foil waste to SRF, industries can work to lower their dependence on standard fossil fuels. For every 12 tonnes of polyester waste film, we can replace around 10 tonnes of fossil fuel. This will lower carbon emissions and supports sustainable energy practices.
Conclusion
Stamping foil does have some common misconceptions surrounding it. Even so, it has many environmental benefits that make it a responsible solution for businesses working towards sustainability. From its compostability and recyclability to the waste reduction potential, foil is worth the investment. It meets the specifications of contemporary businesses without sacrificing environmental responsibility.
By selecting stamping foil rather than less eco-friendly choices, businesses can lower their environmental footprint. They can do it while preserving aesthetically pleasing, high quality products. Foil remains a sustainable choice for the future no matter what you’re using it for.
Ask us about sustainable foils
At Foiling Services, we give clients access to the best products from leading brands. Therefore, you will get excellent results no matter what foils we are using and the specific application.
So, if you want to use sustainable foils for your next project, get in touch with us today. We can offer them for an ever-growing list of needs.