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Introducing Eco-Friendly Printing Solutions

21st Century Document Management Technologies Inc. is your answer for eco-friendly printing and finishing solutions! We recognize the importance of being green, especially in today’s printing industry.

21st Century Document Management Technologies Inc. has eco-friendly options available to provide outstanding quality products that are also good for the environment.

  • Unique solvent-based inks developed by Epson and water based inks
  • Recycled inkjet papers and cardstock
  • Biodegradable banner material (See specifications below)
  • Biodegradable and recyclable coroplast material (See specifications below)

We primarily use local suppliers to help reduce emissions during shipping and deliveries.

We at 21st Century Document Management Technologies Inc. are moving to recyclable and bio-degradable materials and away from difficult to recycle pvc's as technology allows, some examples of these materials are as follows:

1.         Our wide format printer, the EPSON GS 6000 has an Industry Defining 8-colour Solvent-Based Ink System

·         Unique solvent-based chemistry developed by Epson

·         Extremely wide colour gamut using CMYK+Lc+Lm+Orange+Green

·         Professional outdoor permanence ratings

·         Prints on virtually any solvent-based media type—coated and uncoated

·         Superior scratch resistance from improved solvent chemistry

·         Faster dry times eliminates the need for external dryers

·         Virtually odourless printing with less harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)

·         No special ventilation or air purification systems required

·         No Nickel (Ni) compounds used—a known carcinogen

·         Dramatically reduced chemical irritants eliminates any special handling requirements

·         Less harmful impact on worker health and the environment

2.         The First Landfill Degradable Banner Material

 

BIODEGRADABLE FORMULA DETAILS

PVC has a remarkable balance of properties. It is strong, resistant to oil and chemicals, easily decorated, resistant to sunlight and weathering, flame resistant, and low in cost. At one time, PVC was often formulated with little regard for avoidance of toxic Iigredients. This is no longer true. BIOflex™, for example, contains no toxic materials. It is based on the latest technology, highly pure PVC resin, fine particle limestone to provide opacity, plasticizer of vegetable origin to provide flexibility, and the titanium pigment used in the highest quality paint to add to sunlight resistance. Overall, more than 80% of the content of BIOflex™ is derived from sources other than petroleum.

 

Previously PVC had been immortal in the landfill; no degradation was found after decades of landfill burial. When degradable materials, such as starch, were added, they were consumed in the landfill but the PVC itself was untouched. This is a nontoxic formula that, at very low levels, enables landfill decomposition of BIOflex™. BIOflex™ has been engineered to be the FIRST truly environmentally friendly, biodegradable PVC. Worldwide patents covering the BIOflex™ composition are pending.

 

In the landfill, the carbon and hydrogen content of BIOflex™ are partly consumed by the biomass organisms and partly released as methane from fermentation. In a well-managed landfill, methane is harvested for use as fuel. The chlorine content of BIOflex™ is partly consumed and partly converted to soluble chloride. This has value as fertilizer since it makes soil nitrogen more rapidly available to plants. In experiments using landfill into which BIOflex™ had decomposed, as compost in potting soil, vegetables sprouted more rapidly than in controls.

 

Control sample, 30 days in landfill; Standard PVC vinyl

 

Control sample, 30 days in landfill; BIOflex™ PVC

 

CERTIFIED TESTING

In an ISO 13641 study by an independent testing laboratory, addition of BIOflex™ to a landfill not only did not inhibit, but actually increased the level of biological activity. This test is designed to ensure that materials added to a landfill do not release toxic Substances. BIOflex™ begins to degrade in the landfill within a few weeks and depending on thickness and quantity added, the PVC will vanish in 3 to 5 years. It should be noted that landfills could be managed by control of temperature and moisture content so as to increase the level of biological activity.

 

BIOflex™ has passed fire testing for the NY MEA; NFPA 701 and the CA Fire Marshal Title 19 test.

 

BIOflex™ has been tested for strength and weathering in the above tests as well as exposure to 2000 hours of laboratory UV, which showed no signs of discoloration.

 

RECYCLABLE PACKAGING

BIOflex™ rolls are packaged using a stretch film that is made primarily of linear low density Polyethylene (LLDPE). All materials used in the production of this packaging are completely recyclable as low-density polyethylene. Additionally, the protective shipping tubes are made from recycled materials.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

BIOflex ™ is a durable white, flexible 13oz PVC readily available in seamless widths up to 64”. It is tear and fade resistant and will withstand all types of weather conditions; BIOflex ™ can last years in indoor and outdoor applications depending on weather conditions.

 

Applications

BIOflex ™ is perfectly suited for a wide variety of front lit signage applications including:

·         Billboards

·         Wall Murals

·         Tradeshow Displays

·         Outdoor and Indoor Banners

·         Retail Signage

 

3.         Hi-Core® Oxo-Biodegradable Coroplast

 ·         Compostable and will disappear in a landfill.

·         Degrades totally leaving only carbon dioxide and water.

·         Completely recyclable before the start of degradation.

·         Non-toxic and compostable.

·         Conforms to ASTM D6954-04.

·         This is a corrugated plastic sheet that can offer all of the normal outdoor performance properties, until breakdown begins 5-6 months after outdoor installation. At that point and onward, they are "made to degrade".

·         Additives in the sheets start to break the long molecules into smaller and smaller pieces with accumulating exposure to heat, sun and Oxygen. The sheets become brittle and break smaller until they are short molecules that can be eaten by various aerobic microbes.

·         ASTM testing done to date suggests that from 12-months the material will be fragmenting into smaller pieces and by 24 months will be pretty much unrecognizable.

·         The bacteria digest the material, leaving environmentally friendly humus, which is part of the natural life "carbon cycle" of micro bacteria. In addition, miniscule amounts of CO2 and H2O are released and from the breakdown initiating additives a small amount of non-toxic mineral salts.

 

 

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