Tiny Little Monster is committed to eco-friendly printing and being as green as possible, while delivering high-quality custom apparel to our customers. The screen-printing industry and printing process can produce a large amount of physical and chemical waste. Being eco-conscious is at the core of our values, and we’re proud to share some of the green practices we have implemented in our business.
Water-Based and Eco-Friendly Inks
Traditional screen-printing inks often contain harmful chemicals and pollutants. To counter this, we use water-based and eco-friendly inks in our printing process. These inks are free from toxic solvents and PVC (polyvinyl chloride which is the world’s third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic—yikes!) making them safer for both our team and the environment. Both ink types produce vibrant, long-lasting prints that don’t compromise your item’s quality. Additionally, we save excess inks for future jobs rather than throwing them away. We established an extensive ink color chart for our customers to pick from. These colors are already mixed and carefully preserved from prior orders, eliminating the need to mix colors a shade darker or lighter which would create additional ink waste for the future.
Energy-Efficient Equipment
Our commitment to sustainability extends to our equipment as well. We invested in energy-efficient machinery and technologies to reduce our energy consumption. Our LTS (laser to screen) exposing unit uses no physical consumables. Traditionally, to burn a screen, a plastic transparent film is printed on an inkjet printer. That film would then need to be specially recycled or tossed in the trash—we eliminate that waste because we use higher-quality machinery. More recently there are CTS (computer-to-screen) printers that print using ink or wax directly on the screen. While this is better than film, it still produces waste. We bypass this and instead invest in the laser technology, which not only produces incredible halftones, also eliminates the physical waste of film in burning screens.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Reducing waste is a crucial aspect of our eco-conscious approach. We implemented multiple practices to minimize our production waste, including recycling paper, cardboard, and plastic materials weekly in our recycling dumpster. Tiny reuses boxes shipped from vendors rather than using only branded boxes. We reuse damaged or misprinted shirts at least two more times. We do this first by printing test prints on the unprinted areas when setting up new jobs. Second, after there are no more print areas available, we cut the fabric into rags for cleaning screens, eliminating the need for paper towels. Traditional screen printing also requires the use of tape around the edges of screens and between the frames and emulsion to prevent ink from leaking through. We started using a water-soluble screen blocker that washes out in the reclaiming process to replace the disposable tape. This enables us to reduce our waste output significantly.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
Packaging is another area where we strive to make environmentally responsible choices. We use compostable poly mailers for shipping out individual orders and recycled plastic bags for single shirt orders. While this is more expensive than traditional shipping and packaging supplies, we feel it is worth the investment as it ensures that our products reach you safely without contributing to landfill waste. Our commitment to sustainable packaging helps us minimize our environmental impact even after products leave our shop.
Responsible Chemical Disposal Procedures
At Tiny Little Monster we make every effort to select ecofriendly chemicals in the reclaiming process. Many of these are soy based. We take additional steps in the reclaiming process by having a water filtration system to collect and contain solid waste. This waste is then collected in a barrel that is disposed of by a third party responsibly that specializes in safe disposal.
Warehouse Infrastructure
We also make efforts to update and improve the environmental impact of our building. In 2019 we invested in solar panels on the roof and back yard of our building. It reduces our energy use by 50%. In 2022, we switched all old florescent lights to LED—a massive undertaking! In 2024 we replaced our traditional roof with a TPO white roof that reflects UV rays to decrease heat retained by the sun. This lessens our energy needs. In the backyard next to the solar panels we created an organic vegetable and flower garden. The flowers support everyone’s favorite local pollinators (#SaveTheBees), while the veggies are tasty and fun to grow. We maintain a 3-tier composting system to divert weeds, garden and food waste from the landfill. It also produces a nutritionally dense compost mixture we use in the garden each year to add nutrients back to the soil.
Sustainable Clothing Brand options
We work to minimize our environmental footprint is by offering sustainable brands to our customers. Some brands include All-MADE apparel, Bella Canvas, and Alternative apparel. By opting for these alternatives, we help reduce the environmental impact associated with traditional textile production. This is an important issue, and our vendors are making efforts towards further transparency. On our apparel catalog you can see in the description of a garment its level of sustainability based on sustainable materials, manufacturing, socially conscious manufacturing, and responsible mindset.
Innovation and Technology
The print industry is rapidly changing. New technology and machines are constantly being improved and created. Continuing education and improvement are a staple of our business. As technology expands, we invest as a business in methods of reducing our environmental impact by upgrading equipment, reducing waste, and improving efficiency.
At Tiny Little Monster we are proud to be at the forefront of eco-conscious custom screen printing. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in every aspect of our business, from the materials we use to the operation methods we employ. By choosing Tiny Little Monster for your custom apparel needs, you are getting both top-quality products and supporting a business that cares about the environment.
Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future, one print at a time.
