Printing in a sustainable way?
The 5 steps we follow to take care of your projects
1 - Consultancy and pricing
The preliminary printing consultancy for your project is free, and will remain so when we proceed to production together.
If you only need printing consultancy services a consultancy fee will be charged, and you will always be informed about this in advance.
We try to keep our prices as low as possible without compromising on product quality or fair pay for those working on their production.
We also try to keep our business expenses as low as possible. When you buy from Groovink, you are not paying for advertising, marketing campaigns, expensive premises, fancy photo shoots or paid social media partnerships.
Oh, and you are also not paying for gas; Groovink is a business entirely run by bike :)
2 - Project analysis
We will select the most suitable printing technique for the project according to the image style and the number of pieces you want to print.
The chosen printing technique will use the fewest resources and materials, produce the least waste, and be the most affordable. All of our printing techniques guarantee optimal results in terms of quality and durability.
In our studio, we specialise in screen printing with water based inks and vinyl cutting. We also offer DTF, DTG and embroidery services in collaboration with our local partners.
These printing techniques can be used for a wide range of projects, but in some cases, other techniques are necessary, such as discharge printing, solvent-based ink printing, bleaching and puff ink printing. These techniques use strong chemicals and produce a lot of waste, so we do not perform or outsource them.
3 - Design optimisation
We can optimise your design for the chosen printing technique to minimise production waste and make your project more affordable. Sometimes, even minor adjustments such as resizing or colour retouching can have a significant impact.
4 - Printing studio and printing process
Our studio is powered by renewable energies.
To further reduce electricity consumption, we air dry the tools and prints rather than using electric dryers. We then use a heat press to cure the prints.
During printing, most of the ink that has dried on the frame is collected on masking tape. Once the tape has dried, it is disposed of in mixed waste rather than being poured down the sink.
We only print with water based inks, so there is no need to use any solvents. Pine soap is the only product we use to clean our tools.
At this stage, the final wash requires up to 90% less water than if masking tape was not used.
The small amount of waste water passes through a two-stage gravity tank and a 20-micron water filter, which captures most of the remaining impurities.
5 - Garment sourcing
We will always offer you garments from vendors whose production methods are certified, and who use certified recycled and organic raw materials. We never compromise on the quality or durability of our products. We test the products we offer to ensure they will stand the test of time.
You can find out more about our printing process by visiting our studio by appointment, or by joining one of our workshops.
For more info you can write to info@groovink.com, call +358 44 08 22 953 or fill up the message form here.