A Look on Risography and Sustainability
Sustainability is a persisting concern of today, and some consider risography to be relatively eco-friendly printing method. Why is that?
Low Energy Consumption
Risography has low energy consumption. Unlike traditional digital or offset printing, which often require high heat or extensive processing, riso printers use a stencil-based method that consumes minimal electricity. This makes it a more energy-efficient alternative for producing prints, zines, and posters.
Soy-Based Inks
Riso printers use soy-based inks, which are much more environmentally friendly compared to petroleum-based inks used in other printing techniques. Soy ink is biodegradable and produces fewer harmful emissions, reducing its environmental impact. It also doesn’t require toner or fusing agents, which further minimizes chemical waste.
Minimal Waste
It is designed for duplicating large batches with minimal material waste. The master stencils used in risograph printing are made of rice paper, which is more biodegradable than plastic-based alternatives. Riso also doen’t use plates or screens, cutting down on excess materials. I have also heard that masters are made of banana peel – this seems to be untrue and the master is in fact rice-based.
Recyclable and Uncoated Paper
Risograph printing works best with uncoated, recycled, or FSC-certified paper. Unlike digital printing, which often relies on glossy or coated paper that is difficult to recycle, risography thrives on rough, natural-textured paper, making it an ideal choice for eco-conscious designers. Many risograph studios prioritize the use of responsibly sourced paper, which further reduces the environmental footprint.
Encourages Small Batch Printing
By it’s nature, it encourages small-batch, on-demand printing. It allows for efficient production runs, ensuring that materials are used responsibly. This is particularly valuable for independent artists, zine makers, and small publishers who want to minimize waste while maintaining high-quality prints. In commercial printeries, small clients, the ones that don’t want a thousands copies printed, are frowned upon. Of course, they don’t generate any real income for the business. But this leads to problems that I have encountered many times as a student needing a preview print of small university project. Problems like being ignored or being received rudely. When I was a baby designer and had no clue about anything, I had a shop tell me on the phone I should come at 7 in the morning, and I did, and then they let me wait until 9, because that’s when the graphic comes to work, and then he arrived and he let me wait another half an hour while he had his coffee, and then he priority took in some other client who just arrived. A short story for you on the side, to appreciate wie cool it is, that being a small client is no issue for riso printers.
A More Sustainable Alternative to Screen Printing
Screen printing is another popular method for independent printmakers, BUT it requires rather extensive setup, chemical emulsions, and water usage. Risography, on the other hand, eliminates the need for these resources while still producing bold, layered prints with rich textures and vibrant colors. It is basically automated screenprinting.
