How Sustainability and DFT Drive impact on Environmental Efficiency

Sustainability and DFT

Compares the ecological effects of DFT with other approaches to explore the differences between them:

How does DTF compare

Cut Vinyl:

A machine that cuts out designs and letters is used in the vinyl printing process on t-shirts to create personalized t-shirts. A heat press is used to apply the vinyl to your t-shirts once it has been cut out.

Traditional vinyl cutting generates a lot of waste, including the backing sheet for the vinyl and up to 60% of the actual vinyl colour utilized. This is a significant amount, and most of it is not recycled.

Large format print and cut:

Businesses of all sizes use printers/cutters because they are easy to use and provide a wide range of capabilities and possible products.

Print and cut techniques generate even more waste than cut vinyl since they require weeding out undesirable cut areas and lifting the print before manufacturing.

White Toner:

White toner printers were first introduced a few years ago, and since then they have completely revolutionized the customizing industry. They are most frequently used as a T-shirt transfer printer, but they are also becoming more and more popular for producing promotional items like can coolers, coasters, ornaments, trophies, and other items.

During application, some toner transfers, particularly those that use white toner, often use an additional sheet of transfer; leftover toner is also infrequently recycled or properly disposed of.

Direct to Garment:

Due to the lack of a transfer sheet, DTG printing produces fewer by-products. DTG's pre-treatment, which is riddled with chemicals and only applicable to a select fabric blend, is a drawback. As DTG cannot be used on all fabrics, another technique, such as cut vinyl or print and cut vinyl, must be employed in addition to it.

Screen Printing:

Screen printing has improved over time and is among the most well-known and enduring textile printing techniques. The process of reclaiming the screens after usage also produces a significant amount of liquid waste, which, if improperly disposed of, can be damaging to the environment. Making the screens before printing frequently involves the use of chemicals and, in some circumstances, film. Although the process is not variable data, certain plastisol inks contain elements that are not preferred. The amount of pre-press materials and energy required to create a screen for every project, regardless of quantity, is increased.

Indirect Film:

In general, DTF printing is a relatively hygienic, odourless procedure with just one common by-product. Waste is produced when the single film needed to transfer the ink is utilized. However, the DTF process is particularly distinctive in that it only uses ink and adhesive when necessary, producing just one waste product overall. The inks are water-based and have no unpleasant smell or ingredients. Once a film is created, all that is needed to apply it is a quick 15-second heat press.