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In the ever-growing vocabulary of our society's reaction to potential problems with the environment, another movement has been brought to the attention of printers and package converters.
Added to regulatory compliance and environmental management is the concept of sustainability. Just where does this endeavor fit into the need for print management concern and action? What can we do as graphics companies, and what is needed to sustain the programs we embrace?
The question is how we best approach the objectives of sustainability, having weathered the impacts of regulations, pollution prevention, and, for the more responsive firms, environmental management.
Let's look at the ascendancy of the movements that have brought printing into the world of the environment, and how they relate to what we, as printers, can do or promote.
The Environmental Movement
Regulations came first with the passage of such laws as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and RCRA for hazardous wastes. The Superfund laws mandated Right to Know, and the filing of annual reports by major users of known hazardous materials.
As printers, we have come to know these regulations through permit requirements, inspections, and the efforts of our associations, the state agencies, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Lastly, we came to be more aware of the regulations and standards through the citing of violations and penalties.
Pollution prevention was given a shot in the arm with the advent of the Design for the Environment program by the USEPA, which was embraced by the states. Funds were made available for education, research, and development and support for the acquisition of innovative technology. Working with industry associations and private parties, the government reached out to identify alternative sources to replace hazardous air and waste pollutants in our inks, solvents, image carrier processing chemicals, and cleaning solutions. The printing industry excelled at reducing its impact on the environment.
Environmental management systems were then introduced to bring the control of the environment under top management. Wastes were no longer the concern of middle and lower management. The CEO and president issued policies, procedures, and controls that would encourage not only regulatory compliance, but seek methods and materials to exceed the acceptable standards and levels of air, water, and waste emissions and discharges. Just as quality became a responsibility for the entire chain of command, so to does the management of the environment become a bottom-line prerogative.
A Higher Calling
Sustainability brings us to a higher level of envisioning what we can do to embrace the environment. It calls upon us to look at the life cycle of our products, the materials we use, the energy required to process our products, and the impact we have not only on the environment but on our society.
Seeking alternative energy sources, or the use of materials made from agricultural products rather than petroleum or trees, is an admirable goal. Achieving that will require more than just the actions of one—or two or even 10—printers.
The resources that will enable the transition to a sustainable environment must be fostered and encouraged. At the last packaging show, I accompanied a client who was interested in entering the flexible packaging market. We had visited a few booths that promoted plastic films developed from corn. This is a great way to substitute for oil as a source of plastics. However, when talking to a film supplier, we were advised that the amount of resin available was inadequate to provide for even the few companies that wanted to use biofilms.
Sustainability is an admirable movement, but it needs support beyond energy credits and public relations. It needs the political clout we, as an industry, can provide to make government more proactive in its approach to pollution prevention, life cycle recycling concerns, and energy.
Support industry associations in their efforts to move printing into the sphere of sustainability. Help set the example, rather than sitting on the sidelines.
Fred Shapiro is president of P-F Technical Services, Inc. Silver Spring, Md., a technical and environmental management consulting firm to the graphics arts industry. He is also a member of the PIA/GATF "Solutions on Site" consulting network. Contact him at (301) 598-7949.
author: By Fred Shapiro