Why Choose Water Based Screenprinting?

One of the biggest concerns for both producers and consumers of eco-friendly shirt printing and general apparel printing is cost. So, here's a question for you. If someone told you that you could buy a $12.00 t-shirt that leaches poisonous fumes and contains pesticides or a $14.50 t-shirt that helps save our planet, is safe to wear, and was made by people treated and paid fairly, which shirt would you buy? In this day and age would you honestly put the environment and yourself at risk just to save $2.50?

Unfortunately, people make this $12.00 choice everyday because they don't understand the dangers involved in not using low impact t-shirt printing and water based screenprinting.

We realize that change takes time, but we are hopeful for the future. Remember when recycling was introduced and it seemed strange, expensive and had limited availability? Now it is commonplace and offered by almost all waste management companies. So, while we promote and reward (see offer below!) the use of water based screenprinting, we still offer plasitsol ink and conventional cotton apparel...and patiently wait for all screenprinters to exclusively use safe materials and methods. Below are some of the reasons that we encourage water based ink printing.

Plasitsol Ink Perils

The alternative to water based screenprinting is plastisol ink, a liquefied (PVC) polyvinyl chloride. Reigning supreme as the most environmentally damaging plastic, PVC's production, use, and disposal results in the release of toxic, chlorine-based chemicals that react with other chemicals to create harmful by-products such as dioxin, PCBs, hexachlorobenzene, acidic gases, and more. These by-products are destroying our water, air and, consequently, all animals — including humans. Additionally, PVC comes from non-renewable fossil fuels and lethal chlorine gas and its creation involves the transportation of dangerous poisonous explosive materials and the creation of toxic waste. This waste is released while screen printers print and cure the plastisol ink — and it doesn't stop there. Plastisol ink continues to leach toxins when exposed to a radiant heat source such as a house hold dryer or even sunlight.

Furthermore, using plastisol ink requires most screenprinters to use petroleum based solvents for cleaning. (Mantis Graphics has been solvent free for 10 years!) Petroleum is also a non-renewable resource that endangers our air, our health, our water, and the earth's ozone, thus contributing to global warming. Water based apparel printing safely uses water for cleaning.

Part of the Solution

Purchasing water based screenprinting products is a simple, yet effective, action that you can take now in order to contribute to the movement to protect our planet. Save $2.50 or save the planet?

At Mantis Graphics, we are proud to be a part of a strong movement to save the Earth. By choosing eco-friendly screenprinting materials, we are part of the solution and we'd like to make you part of the solution, too.

We are offering a discount to all customers who opt for both water based ink and organic cotton garments. For making this smart choice, you will receive one screen FREE ($20 value). Please mention this promotion when placing your order.