Over a billion ink cartridges are sold each year globally. The greenhouse gas emissions it takes to manufacture a supply of ink cartridges, along with the chemicals in printer ink, ink is harmful to the environment. As a result, the harmful environmental factors of ink cartridges can be felt since they are manufactured. When ink cartridges are thrown in the trash, they end up in a landfill or the ocean. The heavy metals in printer ink can lead to soil and even water pollution when left in landfills. Plus, it takes many years for plastic to break down and still pollutes soil even after degraded.

Thermal printers have a head that consists of a row of small heating parts. The paper has a special coating that turns dark grey when it is heated. By accessing the appropriate elements when the paper passes the head, the computer can print designs and colors. Thermal printers don’t make any noise when operating. Though they are small and only print out on paper tape that isn’t very large. Usually, people use them in supermarkets and shops for printing out customer bills. Even though these do not contribute to pollution, the printing may fade over time and can be destroyed with too much heat. Additionally, thermal printers cost much more than regular printers. One would also need to purchase thermal paper, and the printers do have limits when it comes to color.

Hopefully, thermal printers will continue to evolve as technology progresses. With this, if you’re looking for an environmentally sustainable solution for printing signs, shipping labels, barcodes, and receipts, thermal printers are worth it. Even though you pay more, you’ll eventually save from the durability of thermal printers.

RELATED STORIES:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/thermal-printer#:~:text=Printers-,Thermal%20printers%20have%20a%20head%20that%20consists%20of%20a%20row,can%20print%20characters%20and%20designs.

https://energycentral.com/c/ec/ink-waste-environmental-impact-printer-cartridges#:~:text=Since%2097%25%20of%20the%20materials,is%20reduced%20to%20only%203%25.&text=Manufacturing%20just%20one%20single%20toner,CO2%20Greenhouse%20Gases%20per%20cartridge.

wizixtech.com/printing-impacts-on-the-environment/

https://getfreex.com/blogs/learn/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-thermal-printers#:~:text=The%20biggest%20disadvantages%20of%20thermal,they%20are%20expensive%20to%20replace.

https://getfreex.com/blogs/learn/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-thermal-printers#:~:text=The%20biggest%20disadvantages%20of%20thermal,they%20are%20expensive%20to%20replace.

https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/articles/hardware/what-is-a-thermal-printer-how-does-it-work.html#:~:text=If%20you’re%20looking%20for,printers%20are%20an%20excellent%20choice.

TAKE ACTION:

Buy your own thermal printer:

amazon.com/Rollo-Label-Printer-Commercial Compatible/dp/B01MA3EYC5/ref=sr_1_1_

amazon.com/Phomemo-Portable-M08F-Letter-Bluetooth-Compatible/dp/B0B6VRJT83/