Apericots Resources
Eco-Friendly Inks
For hundreds of years the traditional way of garment printing has been a silk screen printing process. This process of ink application to clothing traditionally includes harmful materials such as plastisol or liquefied PVC otherwise known as polyvinyl chloride. PVC is by far is the most environmentally damaging plastic. The PVC life cycle, its production use and ultimate disposal, results in the release of toxic chlorine-based chemicals. These chemicals combined with others, create highly carcinogenic by-products such as dioxin or PCB. The plasticizers, or phthalates, used in these types of inks, the stuff that makes the PVC flexible, are also highly carcinogenic. All of these carcinogens are released into the environment during the printing and curing of the plastisol ink, but will also continue to exhaust toxins when exposed to a radiant heat source such as household dryers or irons. In many cases these toxins are even released with exposure to sunlight. When these PVC type products are land filled, these toxins are released, threatening ground water. When they are burned or incinerated the toxins are released as dioxin. For more information on the effects of PVC’s and its byproducts see articles such as http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/toxics/go-pvc-free
We don’t want our kids wearing stuff printed with products that are not only harmful to them but to the environment. After extensive research we found the technology that will not only print with vibrant colors and safety, but with the same color fastness after wash as that of traditional silk screen inks. That’s why we print with water-based pigmented inks that are designed for color vibrancy, wash-ability and durability. All of our inks are formulated with great consideration for the health effects of the wearer and with consideration for the environment. You can rest assured that when your kids and ours are wearing Apericots certified organic apparel, printed with our inks, they are wearing the safest, most eco friendly clothing available in the market today.