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According to the Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership (www.sgppartnership.org), "sustainable businesses adopt strategies and activities that allow the enterprise and its stakeholders to realize their profit goals in ways that protect, sustain, and restore the Earth's life support systems for future generations." The SGP was established by three organizations—PIA/GATF, SGIA, and FTA—as an independent third-party verification organization. The Partnership provides benchmarking tools applicable to the printing industry; provides verification of green and sustainable business practices based on a published list of criteria; and publicly recognizes facilities that meet established criteria.
The BIG STORY
"We became involved with the SGP in August of 2007," says Bill Sepeda, sustainable director at Seattle, WA-based The BIG Print, (www.TheBIGPrint.com), "but we started working on our sustainability years ago." Sepeda says becoming an SGP member sounded a bit overwhelming at first, but a recent web seminar made it seem as if things were coming along really well. "The questions from the information on baselines and definitions of even the word sustainable gave a great indication of how much the industry is in dire need for a group like this." While stating that the industry needs SGP, it was not joining the partnership that pointed his company in the "green" direction. They had been totally committed for some time.
"We're not just trying to get the one green product on the shelf so we can be listed as a green printer," he states. "Materials are just the start: waste, reuse, accountability, recycle, energy use, off sets, life cycle of products, customer education, follow through, air quality, community…these are the commitments behind a green/sustainable printer. This is the foundation of our company."
Sustainable printing will become less a sales tool and more a standard of doing business, but it well be slow in coming. Sepeda remains committed, however. "I could work at a number of jobs, but choose to work at one based in the right direction of worrying about its impact on the environment.
Burlington, VT-based Light-Works, Inc. (www.lightworksvt.com) has been immersed in sustainable practices for more than three years, according to president Martin Feldman. "It is now the central focus of our work and our market," he says.
All of the media and substrates Light-Works use are optimized for green printing, meaning that the company has a sustainable media chart where all the products are either renewable or contain at least 30 percent PCW recycled content. While other materials may not fit this stringent criteria, Feldman notes they are the best available.
Feldman says Light-Works joined the SGP Partnership to be part of an organization that can provide a valid and relevant certification for sustainability, and to support such an effort. "In an economy where environmental awareness, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility are growing in importance on a daily basis, I strongly believe the SGP Partnership is the right move at the right time for our industry," he states.
According to Feldman, Light-Works' business practices, including the vendors they choose, the support of the local community, and especially the staff involvement, are all centered on a sustainable business model. "Transparency in our sustainable practices, to our market as well as our competition, is an initiative in our mission," he concludes.
Tim Bennett, president, Foothill Ranch, CA-based Image Options Inc. (www.imageoptions.net) saw the need for the SGP Partnership during a printer manufacturers' customer retreat in 2007. One of the breakout sessions was about sustainable green printing and, according to Bennett; a certain amount of "green washing" was going on about recycling in particular. When Bennett asked the question of where to recycle the material they were discussing, he says the array of answers coming from the presenter and audience members were wide ranging. He heard everything from "We're working on it" to "Give it to migrant farmers to cover strawberries!"
"Fortunately," says Bennett, "Marci Kinter from the SGIA was on the panel and took control." Kinter said it was clearly getting way too much spin and went on to explain that SGIA was talking with industry counterparts regarding standards. "By the SGIA show in October, they had put together the foundation of the SGP Partnership," says Bennett, who attended the inaugural meeting. "A professional organization with no financial agenda seemed to be the best and most educated watchdog," says Bennett.
Image Options now researches and sources as many eco-friendly materials as possible for evaluation purposes, even if they elect not to use them. Suppliers are advised that only material with full supporting information (MSDS/white papers etc. on letterhead) will go into trial or use. "Image Options does not private label materials," states Bennett. "Only the manufacturers published product name is used, all of which is shared the client." Bennett adds that the introduction rate of new materials can be confusing with many materials being private labeled by converters and distributors. "Our approach is to catalog each material content, source, use, print process, disposal method, and origin (total carbon measurement)."
Because of the current lack of readily available recycling access, Image Options leans toward landfill biodegradable solutions until such time as materials are printed or stamped with a recycling ID number, as with consumer products.
Image Options has seven EFI VUTEk printers and, according to Bennett, their EFI VUTEk 3360 printer was converted from solvent to beta test EFI VUTEk's corn-based "BioVu" inks for use with Ultraflex's Bioflex biodegradable vinyl and fabrics in 2007. Bennett says a decision will be made in shortly to either upgrade the BioVu ink printer to the next generation roll-to-roll UV printer or continue as is. In addition, two DuPont Artistri printers using water-soluble inks are used for "direct" fabric print, negating the need to use transfer paper.
"The testing of water-based adhesives for mounting is under evaluation," says Bennett, "with the added benefit of not producing masses of waste as there is no release liner." A private plastic recycler collects off-cuts by the dumpster load, as with paper and corrugated materials.
A number of common sense and energy-saving practices have been implemented at Image Options, including upgrading the lighting, water-fountain purification systems instead of bottled and zoned HVAC. "Delivery vehicles are also being changed out to high mileage Toyotas for small items and a Dodge Sprinter turbo diesel," says Bennett.
Though he would like to say that his company joined the SGP Partnership because of the wonderful feeling of saving the earth, Rick Mandel, president, Milwaukee, WI-based Mandel Graphic Solutions (www.mandelcompany.com), admits that he was driven by clients and economics.
"If you are doing business with middle to larger retail clients, sustainable activity and certification will become the norm," says Mandel. The interest level and the amount of requests from clients gave Mandel a glimpse into the future. "The printers that do it will push their clients to require certification, as it will be a marketing distinction in competition. At the beginning, it will be a necessary activity for printers, but it will become the right thing to do."
While Mandel Graphics has been involved with research and planning so far, Mandel knows what it takes to be a sustainable company. "It is not just recycling or doing sustainable activities," he says. "It is not just providing green alternatives to clients or providing greener ink or reducing the carbon footprint of the company. It is not just providing a post advertising recycling solution for the retail signage. It is all of the above."
Although his company is behind the Partnership, Mandel does have some reservations. "Proponents say that the costs of the activities will become zero (recycle, energy, solar, natural lighting, etc.), but I have a hard time seeing that," he says, adding that he may need to hire a sustainable manager.
Mandel is also wary of the politics of certification. "I see power struggles ahead," he says. "There are already larger groups saying that SGP is just another sector group that will have its own politics for certification, and maybe not the right solutions. They don't feel that sector certification should be recognized as legitimate." Mandel adds that these groups feel that a whole testing industry will develop with its own political issues because, as he says, "no certification, no business with a specific client...it's a serious issue."
Steven Shaw is the former editor of Industrial Photography and Studio Photography. He writes for numerous magazines, including Studio, PTN, and Kitchen & Bath Design News.
author: BY STEVEN SHAW