GREEN scene
PRINTER NEWS
Times Printing Is Climbing Green Tier
RANDOM LAKE, WI—Times Printing has announced its acceptance into Wisconsin’s Green Tier program, which is sponsored by the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program “provides incentives that enable good environmental citizens to go beyond compliance and perform to a higher environmental level, while allowing the DNR to focus its resources on facilities not meeting requirements,” says Wendy Scholler, Times’ environmental, health and safety coordinator.
Times’ many eco-friendly initiatives include replacing three catalytic oxidizers with one regenerative thermal oxidizer, which has dramatically reduced energy use and VOC emissions; setting up recycling programs for ink and waste-absorbent materials; replacing light fixtures throughout the plant with energy-efficient lighting; and replacing solvents with environmentally friendly, biodegradable products. The printer has also committed to implementing an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System or a functionally equivalent system, within one year of acceptance into the program.
Printing Concepts, Erie, PA, has been chain-of-custody certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
H+D Graphics, Hialeah, FL, recently received FSC chain-of-custody certification.
Heritage, a printing, promotional and fulfillment solutions provider in El Reno, OK, is now FSC chain-of-custody certified.
The Harty Press, New Haven, CT, has earned FSC certification.
Cultivate Communications, Los Angeles, has been tri-certified by the FSC, SFI and PEFC, and has partnered with TerraPass to sponsor clean energy and carbon emission reduction projects.
Concord Litho, Concord, NH, achieved FSC chain-of-custody certification, as part of its “Green Printing Options.”
Signature Card, Richardson, TX, has announced its Green Initiative, which includes providing biodegradable corn stock and recycled card stock for magnetic stripe and generic plastic card printing. Both types of cards are printed using the same quality techniques as standard laminated PVC products.
SUPPLIER NEWS
Pitney Bowes has joined the World Environment Center (WEC), a global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development business practices. Through its membership with the WEC, Pitney Bowes aims to promote awareness of the many advances the mailing industry has made, and will continue to make, to significantly enhance the environmental sustainability of the mailstream.
Mohawk Fine Papers presented WondriskaRusso, a West Hartford, CT-based integrated communication design firm, with its Mohawk Windpower Partnership Award for choosing Mohawk Via 30 percent post-consumer waste stock (made with electricity generated by renewable windpower) for materials related to The Edward Hopper Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Domtar announced that its Cougar line of premium uncoated paper is now FSC certified. Cougar is already SFI certified, contains 10 percent post-consumer waste fiber, and is manufactured acid- and elemental chlorine-free.
Gould Paper is now chain-of-custody certified by both the SFI and FSC.
INDUSTRY NEWS
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program marked record growth in 2007, including a 750 percent increase in locations with SFI chain-of-custody certifications and 386 percent growth in certificates. SFI-certified lands also significantly increased from 135 million acres in 2006 to 143.7 million acres in 2007. In addition, the SFI announced that the following companies recently earned SFI chain-of-custody certification: Quebecor World, EarthColor, Smith-Litho, xpedx, Graphic Communications, Jeld-Wen and RR Donnelley’s Chamblee, GA, plant.
The Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership recently held its first stakeholders meeting in Arlington, VA. On hand were representatives from the PIA/GATF, SGIA and FTA, the U.S. EPA, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Audubon International and GreenTrack Strategies, as well as printers representing different processes. During the meeting, it was agreed that the focus of sustainable printing would have to extend beyond environmental concerns and focus on all three important concepts of sustainability: people, profits and the planet. To learn more about the SGP Partnership and the SGP registry, visit www.sgppartnership.org .
