CleanPrint™ Informational Sheet
- Jamie Smith
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
What is CleanPrint™
CleanPrint™ White Paper is a Publishing Standard for Sensitive Readers and Health-Conscious ConsumersPrepared by: John C. Banta, Founder, CleanPrint™ johncbanta@gmail.com
What CleanPrint™ means for Mold Controlled
Mold Controlled is offered in CleanPrint™ format – printed by IngramSpark. IngramSpark printed editions of Mold Controlled are printed using sustainable paper and materials that meet EU chemical safety standards. Ideal for environmentally sensitive readers, each copy is produced using low-VOC inks and adhesives through IngramSpark’s network of CleanPrint™ aligned facilities.
More information on CleanPrint™
Executive Summary
Many people enjoy reading a physical book, but for chemically sensitive individuals, this simple pleasure can become a health hazard. The inks, glues, coatings, and paper stock used in modern book production may release chemical odors or residues that trigger reactions such as headaches, respiratory issues, fatigue, or cognitive fog. For individuals with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), fragrance intolerance, or other environmentally triggered conditions, traditionally printed books can become unreadable—even before the first page is turned. CleanPrint™ Books was developed to change that. CleanPrint™ is a medically informed print standard designed to reduce the chemical burden of reading materials, restore access to print for sensitive populations, and provide greater transparency in how books are made.
The Problem
Most book production today prioritizes speed and cost. Health impacts are rarely considered, particularly for sensitive or medically vulnerable readers. This leaves a gap:
Chemically sensitive readers cannot know whether a book is tolerable until it arrives.
Digital alternatives are not a solution for everyone — some are sensitive to EMFs or cannot focus on screens.
Major print-on-demand platforms do not disclose paper source, ink composition, binding adhesives, or print facility details.
This leaves chemically sensitive readers excluded from safe access to books specifically written to help them.
The CleanPrint™ Standard
CleanPrint™ was created to address this gap. It defines a minimum set of publishing practices and production characteristics that support sensitive readers without sacrificing quality or durability.
Books that meet the CleanPrint™ standard are:
Printed on responsibly sourced paper, free from fragrances or recycled pulp that may contain scented residues or unknown contaminants
Manufactured using inks and adhesives compliant with European Union standards, including:
REACH (EC 1907/2006) – limiting toxic solvents and heavy metals
EN 71-3 – regulating the migration of hazardous elements
EN 71-2 – ensuring flammability control without the use of chemical flame retardants
Free from artificial fragrances, biocides, or antimicrobial surface treatments
Produced in traceable facilities with quality control aligned with environmental health best practices
These criteria help reduce the off-gassing and residual contamination that can make traditionally printed books problematic for sensitive readers.
Implementation and Print Availability
CleanPrint™ was made possible by identifying print-on-demand systems already aligned with international health and environmental standards.
Among the available options, IngramSpark / Lightning Source stood out as a print provider whose practices already aligned with several CleanPrint™ criteria — including:
Paper sourcing from responsibly managed forests
Use of inks and adhesives in compliance with REACH and EN 71-3/71-2 standards
Traceable facility codes to confirm print origin
While CleanPrint™ is an independent standard, IngramSpark’s alignment with key requirements made it possible to deliver CleanPrint™ Books to readers early in the development of the initiative.
CleanPrint™ does not create new manufacturing technology. Instead, it draws upon established environmental and chemical safety benchmarks to offer a practical, reader-focused framework, supporting chemically sensitive individuals and those seeking lower-impact print materials. It functions as a platform to:
Evaluate and promote qualifying printing sources
Help readers make informed book-purchasing decisions
Encourage industry-wide movement toward more transparent, health-conscious production.
Limitations and Opportunities for Growth
CleanPrint™ was developed quickly and thoughtfully, but we acknowledge that it is not yet perfect. Challenges remain, including:
Shipping-Related Contamination: Even when a book is printed cleanly, it may be transported or stored alongside fragranced goods. Some readers may detect unwanted odors due to cross-contamination during shipping.
Potential solution: We are exploring whether CleanPrint™ Books could be sealed in Tyvek® or food-grade poly inner wrappers before boxing. This could reduce the absorption of external scents and preserve the clean production environment through final delivery.
Lack of Labeling and Visibility Across Retailers: Currently, there is no universal label or filter to distinguish CleanPrint™ titles in major online marketplaces. Readers must rely on designated sources or direct-from-author fulfillment to ensure compliance.
Potential solution: A CleanPrint™ seal or embedded metadata flag may help retailers and libraries support informed choice and accessibility.
Feedback and Verification: CleanPrint™ relies heavily on reader feedback to verify tolerability. While this supports real-world quality control, it’s also a limitation, as thresholds for reactivity vary.
Ongoing commitment: We will continue to collect feedback and work toward third-party verification frameworks for CleanPrint™ compliance.
CleanPrint™ as an Accessibility and Inclusion Initiative: CleanPrint™ is not just about comfort — it is a reasonable accommodation for people with medically recognized sensitivities. Under frameworks like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and service providers are encouraged to provide modified formats or services when standard offerings pose barriers.
CleanPrint™ offers such a format. It supports:
Print access for individuals who cannot tolerate screens
Reduced chemical exposure for those with environmental illness
A publishing model that balances health, sustainability, and integrity
Call to Printers and Publishers
An Invitation to book printers, publishers, and retailers: to evaluate their materials and methods and consider offering CleanPrint™-compliant options.
CleanPrint™ is not exclusive. It is voluntary, medically relevant, and scalable: designed to protect health, promote sustainability, and bring inclusivity back to print publishing. We welcome dialogue with printers, authors, accessibility advocates, and environmental health professionals who wish to join this movement.