| The inherent environmental cost of producing DVDs | | | | the making of screens or plates. Screens have to be |
| and CDs is something that most people commissioning | | | | washed out after use resulting in more chemicals being |
| either DVD duplication or DVD replication may be | | | | flushed away. In addition screen and offset inks are |
| aware of, though the full extent of this is often not | | | | inherently toxic and cause more hazardous waste to |
| recognised. It may be obvious that a DVD is made of | | | | be dumped into the environment. |
| plastic (polycarbonate to be precise) and that this must | | | | Finally before the job can be printed the printer needs |
| have some impact on the environment. In addition to | | | | to be run in to settle down, usually requiring up to 50 or |
| this, DVDs have a reflective layer of aluminium which | | | | 100 DVDs to be printed before the print is satisfactory. |
| is sputtered on to the polycarbonate surface. A DVDR | | | | In stark contrast to this, the latest generation of digital |
| disc also has a layer of organic dye added (the | | | | printers require no plates, films or screens and no |
| recording layer). Organic in this context does not mean | | | | hazardous chemicals in the setup process. A DVD |
| wholesome – it refers to the branch of chemistry | | | | duplication job can be printed directly from the digital |
| that deals with these hazardous hydro carbons! | | | | artwork with no setup. Although it is possible to print |
| The process of printing (or decorating) the disc is one | | | | replicated DVDs this method is ideally suited to the on |
| that arguably has the most potential for environmental | | | | demand, low volume run size of DVD duplication. The |
| cost. Whether it is DVDR duplication or DVD | | | | machine prints the first disc exactly the same as all |
| replication, the disc will require some printing so it can | | | | subsequent discs meaning that there is no disc |
| be identified (and to look good too!). The options for | | | | wastage either. |
| printing are varied but the most common for large | | | | If your next DVD production could benefit from lower |
| volume runs are screen printing (sometimes referred | | | | environmental cost, and quicker turnaround and not to |
| to as silkscreen) and litho printing (more correctly | | | | speak of the highest 4 colour print quality available you |
| referred to as offset). Both processes involve a great | | | | should look no further than digital printing. If you want |
| deal of waste and the flushing and disposal of | | | | your DVD duplication project to look as good or better |
| environmentally damaging chemicals. Screen and | | | | than a replicated DVD found in shops then this is also |
| offset printing start by exposing film of the artwork | | | | the best option. |
| (involving the use of toxic chemicals and plastics) and | | | | |
