Eco-Friendly Fabric Printing
Understanding our global role
We know that every business needs to play their part to protect the environment. It doesn’t matter how small the change is, every little bit makes a difference. Our industry, like many manufacturing industries, has traditionally used products that can be harmful to the environment. Some businesses choose to ignore these issues and instead put profits first.
At The Fabric Printer, we’ve made a conscious decision to source alternative eco-friendly products wherever possible, like environmentally friendly screen-printing ink. The use of toxic-free ink does not affect the quality of our products at all. However, we know that choosing eco-friendly alternatives does have a big effect on our employees and customers by providing a safe product and a cleaner environment.
Our eco-friendly products
The Brother GTX is our Direct-To-Garment (DTG) printer and uses an eco-friendly water-based pigment ink. All the inks used in the Brother GTX are certified ECO PASSPORT by Oeko-Tex®, CPSIA compliant and carry a certification from the Global Organic Textile Standards. The replacement ink packaging for the Brother GTX has also been redesigned, using less plastic which creates minimal waste to dispose of.
Our other water-based inks are Australian made and do not contain any toxic chemicals. This includes no ozone-depleting chemicals like CFCs or HCFCs or any lead or heavy metals. Apart from being eco-friendly, water-based inks provide a softer finish and make the garment more breathable and comfortable to wear.
The question remains - why do so many commercial-grade screen printers choose to only use plastisol inks, knowing that they contain harmful PVC and phthalates? The simple answer - because it’s easier. Water-based inks require more effort and higher skilled labour. That’s fine with us. We’re happy to put in the extra effort as we know how important it is for our environment.
Benefits of ecofriendly, water-based ink:
- Non-toxic
- Certified eco-friendly
- Penetrates well into the fabric
- Offers better breathability in garment
- Ideal for vintage or faded designs
- Ink can be cleaned with water - no harsh chemicals
People before profits
Our garments, including t-shirts, hoodies and hats, are sourced from responsible suppliers. We know there are many people in the world who are manufacturing clothing under poor working conditions and minimal pay - we strongly oppose this. We choose to buy, and supply, only ethically made products from companies that meet fair labour conditions. This includes companies that recognise and seek to rectify gender inequality, irresponsible purchasing practices, child and forced labour and the use of hazardous chemicals.
One of the keys to ensuring fair labour conditions is traceability. It’s important that we know where our garments come from. The majority of our stock is sourced through AS Colour, an Australian company who adheres to the ethical production guide and has 100% traceability of all their garment and fabric suppliers. We hope that more businesses will join our stance on ethical trading and help to improve the conditions and rights of overseas workers.
Ongoing Changes
We are always discovering new ways to refine and perfect our eco-friendly t-shirt printing. Thankfully, there are many companies that share our vision. We’ll continue to work alongside these businesses and deliver exceptional, ethical and eco-friendly products.
If you have any questions about our products or wish to discover more about our eco-friendly practices, please contact our team at The Fabric Printer.