LocationsHow a small family printing house reduces paper waste in the graphic industry
Every centimetre of used waste counts
October 18, 2024
At a time when environmental protection is becoming increasingly important, a small family printing house from Pančevo has found a creative way to turn its paper waste into useful products, reducing its environmental impact and extending the lifespan of high-quality materials.
The Deto printing house, which has been operating for 32 years, had long been looking for a solution to utilise the waste from high-quality paper in its production processes. Deto uses this paper to produce paper and cardboard packaging as well as promotional items.
“This is the paper that has already been used for printing and has gone through the process of lamination, finishing, and varnishing, only to end up being recycled for technical reasons instead of becoming a new product. That was the case until a spark of inspiration struck”, says Miodrag Ristić, the director of the printing house.
They decided that useful products can be made from waste materials, extending the lifespan of the paper and increasing the overall commercial impact of production. Thanks to support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Deto was able to purchase a new machine suitable for cutting small formats, bringing their innovative idea to life. Instead of being thrown away, this material is now fed into the machine and transformed into packaging boxes for further use.
Alongside this technological upgrade, Deto has launched Kutijice.com, an online platform where they are happy to share their experiences with small cardboard packaging. The platform provides tools and knowledge for people who want to experiment and make their own products with materials in smaller dimensions.
Emilija Ristić, editor of the Kutijice.com platform, says that one of Deto's most successful products is a small box with a satin ribbon. “After it was posted on Pinterest, it gained over three million views from visitors in 198 countries, which shows that there is a global interest in sustainable practises in the printing industry”, adds Emilija.
Deto's innovation led to immediate and tangible results. The printing house reduced the amount of recycled paper by 30% from an average of 1.5 tonnes every two months, by being creative with what would otherwise be considered a waste. The real challenge, however, lies in reducing the pollution generated during the recycling process itself.
“It is paradoxical that the graphic arts industry is one of the most environmentally conscious ones, as more than 89% of paper is recycled, yet the greatest pollution occurs during the recycling process itself, which consumes enormous amounts of energy, water and other resources. We believe that this is where our project brings the greatest benefit”, says Miodrag.
In addition to contributing to environmental protection, Deto, where the majority of employees are women, is characterised by its inclusive approach to employment, which prioritises people from vulnerable groups.
Looking to the future, Miodrag and his colleagues remain committed to reducing waste. “Our dream is to have the first printing house that is completely waste-free”, emphasises Miodrag.
With their innovative practises and commitment to sustainability, Deto is well on its way to achieving that dream.
This idea is being supported as part of the project “Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Local Communities by Applying the Principles of Circular Economy in the Republic of Serbia - Circular Communities", which is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
You can see how this entire process works in the following video:
