Eco-Friendly Screen Printing | Eco-Friendly Custom Printed T-Shirts
For many years now, Monkey in a Dryer has been an Eco-Friendly screen printing company. However, we want to go even further. While striving to become an industry leader, we hope to change the clothing industry as a whole. We believe that by cutting down on the negative environmental impact of the apparel industry on Earth, we need to make changes from within our industry.
Our Green Initiatiave
For MIAD, following the green initiative means being aware of the full impact of one’s actions. As a small business with a passion for reuse, MIAD has been implementing positive environmental changes since 2015 and is moving towards becoming a zero-waste leader in our industry. One of the biggest changes we are making is participating in the RenewableConnect program through Xcel Energy. We have installed solar panels on top of our circa 1855 Barn. 100% of the electricity we use at MIAD comes from locally sourced wind and solar.
Now offering to Print on Pre-Worn T-shirts!
Recycling and reusing pre-worn threads is more popular than ever! There’s an increase in awareness about sustainability and being socially responsible. Monkey in a Dryer is happy to see that the younger generation is leading the way in limiting the environmental footprint of fast fashion and still looking fabulous! T-shirts are a great way to recycle and reuse. By printing designs on used shirts instead of new ones, consumers can reduce their carbon, waste, and water footprint by roughly 70 percent per shirt.
What is the RRR Program?
At MONKEY IN A DRYER, we offer the RRR program (reuse, recycle, re-wear), where we offer screen printing services on customer-provided pre-washed, pre-worn t-shirts. This program is available to environmental organizations, reuse and recycle businesses, and resellers.
In addition to the RRR program, we offer a few amazing eco-brands of apparel. Many of these brands offer t-shirts that are made from recycled old t-shirts. Some are made from recycled and reused old water bottles. After implementing these programs, we are cutting down on the negative impact on our industry and environment.
Eco-Friendly + Sustainable Apparel Brands We Love
A few of our favorite sustainable fashion brands are All-Made Apparel, Bella+Canvas, Alternative Apparel, and ONNO Apparel. Making a better t-shirt means using fabrics/materials that are eco-friendly, using more eco-friendly chemicals, using locally grown/sourced materials, and closing the dreaded transportation loop. Contact us for more details!
Screen printing companies create a lot of waste beyond chemicals and inks. Rags, unused ink, clean-up materials, empty containers, used film, cardboard boxes, and at least a dozen other items get thrown into the garbage as part of daily practices. While some of this is appropriate for the garbage, other items can find new life within the recycling system. Below you will see how MIAD implements our green initiative and will always be looking for new ways to green our business.
Production:
- All cleaning materials are eco-friendly using soybean and citrus-based chemicals
- Eco-friendly screen printing washes, openers, degreasers, and strippers
- Use of Pallet Paste instead of Aerosol Adhesives
- Use of a Water Filtration System to remove and filter out any chemical waste
- Environmentally friendly non-phthalates and PVC-free inks by Wilflex Epic
- Optional water-based inks
Reusing Cardboard Boxes:
Recycling existing packaging is a great way to produce and pollute less. We reuse the boxes that we receive from the t-shirt manufacturer. The more we recycle, the less we have to dispose of.
Recycling Film Positives:
Not being sure of what to do with our film positives after a job has been completed, I checked into how to best recycle this bi-product. Film Positives are made of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, sometimes PETE) with a light coating to accept ink and it is easily recyclable. As a result of reaching out to our local recycling company, we were informed that they are more than happy to accept this material with our weekly recycling as long as it is labeled correctly. We then incorporated the #1PETE recycling symbol into our art template so every film we printed would be easily identifiable and could just be thrown into any recycling container and eventually made into future products.
Reusing Old or Misprinted T-Shirts
We all know much too well how much water and energy goes into making a single t-shirt. MIAD wants to reduce our industrial footprint with the biggest impact possible. We have come up with some great alternatives to using old or misprinted t-shirts. Instead of tossing the misprints into the trash and sent to a landfill, we reuse them for test prints, inside and out. Once a garment has been printed on as much as possible, we reuse misprints by cutting them up and using them for cleanup instead of paper towels. Thus saving us money and the environment one t-shirt at a time.
We Have Partnerships With Local Reuse Organizations and Apparel Brands
We are partnering with a few local nonprofits and a few vintage shops that produce creative dresses and bags out of old t-shirts. Reusing, Recycling, and Rethinking how we can find other ways to use our “waste” is something I am very passionate about. I am always looking for other local businesses that have this same kind of passion. We love the opportunity to reuse our printed-on t-shirts by giving them another life. We donate old t-shirts to help local artists, nonprofits, and all-around great creative people who turn junk into treasure.
Recycling Inks:
Since implementing a few crucial changes in our everyday business practices, we always think there is room for improvement.
MIAD now offers recycled ink for all custom t-shirt orders at a discount price. This process of reusing ink is a way to maximize ink mileage. After removing the ink from the screen, we place it into a scrap drum. This left us to wonder, what do we do with the leftover ink? The solution? We rework the leftovers and recycle the inventory into a printable product we call Recycled Gray.
Our Hope for Our Industry and Our Future
We believe that sharing our ideas and the changes that we have made, will inspire others in our industry to rethink, reuse, and recycle their waste by making more use of it. We Monkeys are keenly aware of our natural environment and we will always go out on a limb for Mother Nature.
Contact us today to learn more about eco-friendly screen printing and help us to reduce, recycle, and reuse. We are based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and proudly serve all of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and ship products to customers nationally from coast to coast!
