Eco Print Guides

Risograph Printing: The Most Sustainable Commercial Print Process

Risograph is the most environmentally friendly commercial print process available. Here's what it's best suited for.

Risograph printing has found a devoted following among artists and independent publishers — partly for its distinctive aesthetic and partly for genuine environmental advantages.

How it works

The design is burned onto a master wrapped around a drum, and soy-based ink is pushed through onto paper below. Each colour requires a separate pass. The process produces rich, saturated spot colours with a characteristic slight misregistration central to the aesthetic.

Why it’s the most sustainable commercial print process

  • Soy-based inks as standard — not an option
  • Low energy consumption
  • No heat required — unlike laser printing
  • No chemical processing in master creation
  • Works beautifully on recycled and uncoated stock

Best for

Zines, art prints, posters, event programmes, independent magazines, greetings cards, limited edition prints. Not suited to photographic reproduction or large format.

Eco large format printing

Banners, roller banners and exhibition displays — quoted by verified eco print suppliers.

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