Shenhua Printing: Establishing a green and circular printing system, fulfilling the industrial responsibilities under the dual-carbon goals
Under the backdrop of the comprehensive implementation of the dual-carbon goals and the tightening of environmental protection policies, the green transformation of the printing industry has advanced from "single-process environmental protection" to "full-chain circular low-carbon". Shenhua Printing has been deeply engaged in the printing industry for 22 years. With "reduction, reuse, and resource utilization" as its core, it has established a green circular printing system covering "raw material circulation - low-carbon production - degradable finished products - waste recycling", achieving carbon reduction throughout the printing life cycle and setting a benchmark for circular development in the high-end printing industry.
System establishment, breaking through the barriers of the printing full-chain circulation
Shenhua Printing has realized that the green transformation of traditional printing is mostly limited to the selection of environmentally friendly raw materials, lacking a complete chain recycling plan, which leads to resource waste and high carbon emissions. Therefore, in 2020, the company initiated a special construction of the green recycling system, collaborating with environmental protection institutions, substrate suppliers, and recycling enterprises, integrating green processes, recycling technologies and recycled resources, to build a closed-loop recycling printing ecosystem.
Over the past 22 years, the recycling system has been continuously improved: In 2021, biodegradable materials and recycled paper were adopted, and a raw material recycling procurement mechanism was established; in 2022, a printing waste classification recycling system was launched, enabling the classification recycling and reuse of resources such as paper, ink tanks, and waste auxiliary materials; in 2023, the production process was renovated to achieve wastewater and residual heat recycling, further reducing production energy consumption; in 2024, green recycling printing processes covered the entire production line, with an annual resource recycling and utilization rate of 80%, reducing carbon emissions by over 1,000 tons compared to traditional printing methods, and obtaining the national-level green printing enterprise certification.
Core advantages: Balancing circularity, low-carbon emissions and printing quality
"Shenhua's green circular printing system perfectly aligns with our sustainable development philosophy. The packaging products printed using recycled paper and degradable processes not only meet environmental standards but also convey the brand's green values, earning widespread recognition from end consumers." The evaluation by the purchasing manager of a high-end food brand reveals the core value of this system.
Raw material recycling and adaptation, reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption at the source: Establish a green raw material procurement system, prioritize the use of FSC-certified recycled paper, corn starch-based biodegradable films and other environmentally friendly substrates, with the proportion of recycled materials reaching over 40%; Cooperate with substrate suppliers to establish a recycling cooperation mechanism, recycle customers' discarded printed materials for recycling processing, achieving a closed-loop recycling of raw materials; Optimize raw material ratios and printing processes, reduce substrate and ink consumption, further lowering carbon emissions at the source.
Full-chain low-carbon production, process recycling and efficiency improvement: The production process adopts water-based inks and solvent-free technology, combined with efficient waste gas treatment equipment, achieving zero emission of VOCs; wastewater is filtered and purified through multiple stages, and then recycled for workshop cleaning and raw material pre-treatment, with the water recycling rate reaching 90%; the waste heat recovery system recovers the heat from the printing equipment for heating the workshop and preheating the substrate, saving over 400 tons of standard coal annually; implementing digital control management, optimizing the production process, and reducing ineffective energy consumption and waste of consumables.
Finished product recycling and end-of-life resource utilization: For different scenarios, we offer biodegradable printed products. Food packaging printing adopts compostable technology, and outdoor label printing uses photodegradable materials. This ensures that the printed products can naturally degrade after disposal, without causing environmental pollution. We have established a printing waste recycling network, providing customers with on-site collection services for discarded printed materials.