GREEN Scene
Green Printer Promotes 'Blue Air'
PHOENIX--As Arizona's only employee-owned commercial printing company, O'Neil Printing is used to thinking outside the box. Which is why it comes as no surprise to those familiar with the company (especially its clients and friends in the community) that it is a leading environmental steward.
O'Neil has its own sustainability program, which focuses on recycling excess production materials including paper, aluminum printing plates and corrugated cartons, as well as properly treating and reusing the chemicals in its printing processes. O'Neil has also teamed with Toyo Ink and is utilizing Toyo's HyPlus 100 process series inks, which are entirely VOC-free.
O'Neil's out-of-the-box, eco-friendly thinking becomes uber apparent in two of its most unique initiatives, one involving employees, the other print deliveries. Company employees are encouraged to use alternative "blue air" methods for their work commute, such as car pooling, ride sharing, public transportation, bicycling and alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles. Each month, a drawing is held for a $50 gift card and a preferred parking spot for employees who participate in the initiative.
Pictured at top, Kelly Karau is selecting a winner in the employees' monthly drawing. Pictured above is another of O'Neil's innovative green initiatives: a "clean emissions" natural-gas-fueled delivery vehicle, a Honda Civic, driven by Art Uriarte.
PRINTERNEWS
According to its quarterly "eco-audit" for Q1 2008, Cary Printing, of Morrisville, NC, used 611,205 pounds of certified paper; saved 229 full-grown trees, 219,710 pounds of wood and 410,815 gallons of water; reduced landfill waste by 46,940 pounds; saved net greenhouse emissions by 112,968 pounds; and reduced energy consumption by 755,651,138 BTUs.
Ripon Printers, of Ripon, WI, has joined the Wisconsin Green Tier program, reducing its impact on the environment and exceeding compliance and environmental laws/regulations. Its many sustainability measures include reducing VOC emissions, energy and water usage; recycling paper, plastic, cardboard and plastics; and pursuing FSC certification.
FSC-certified American Web of Denver has published a booklet for its clients and potential clients titled "How to Join the Green Printing Evolution: A guide to transforming environmental action into commercial success."
St. Louis-based Creative Imaging is obtaining Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset 100 percent of its non-renewable energy use with renewable sources, mostly wind power. Based on its projected annual energy usage, the printer's investment in RECs is the equivalent of planting 93 acres of trees. Other practices include offering recycled paper, recycling 100 percent of internal waste, and investing in the eco-friendly Xerox iGen3 that requires no solvents, acids or acetones.
Now Certified!
The following companies have received chain-of-custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and/or Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
Bayside Printing, Houston: FSC.
The John Roberts Co., Minneapolis: FSC, SFI and PEFC.
Lake Printing, Osage Beach, MO: FSC and SFI.
Goetz Printing, Springfield, VA: SFI.
LVI, Boston: FSC.
Yamagata America, San Diego: FSC.
Evolution Impressions, Rochester, NY: FSC.
Reflections Printing, Minneapolis: FSC.
Heeter Direct, Canonsburg, PA: FSC.
Eagle Press, Rocky Mount, NC: FSC.
SUPPLIERNEWS
INX 'Wins Gold' for Turning Ever Green
SACRAMENTO, CA--INX International's facility here has earned Gold Certification as a Sacramento Sustainable Business (SSB) in a program sponsored by the Sacramento County Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC).
INX-Sacramento was evaluated in five categories: Energy Conservation, Water Conservation, Pollution Prevention, Solid Waste Reduction and Green Building. Business Practices, as well as Physical Facility features and equipment, are included in an extensive checklist of more than 160 items. Results of a July inspection by BERC indicated INX easily exceeded requirements for Gold certification, after initially earning basic SSB status two months earlier.
One area where INX has made major strides is Solid Waste Reduction. The company is now recycling about 95 percent of its materials, using a nearby recycling center that turns the waste material into paper towels or other recycled products.
The most recent group of printers to be honored by the Agfa Graphics GreenWorks Program include Bassette Co., Springfield, MA; Berman Printing, Cincinnati; C&D Printing, St. Petersburg, FL; CCPress.net, Baltimore; Designers Press, Orlando, FL; Heritage Printing and Graphics, Leonardstown, MD; Litho Impressions, Temple Hills, MD; PXPOhio, Reynoldsburg, OH; and Spectrum Printing, Rockville, MD. GreenWorks honors Agfa customers that are proactively involved in environmental responsibility, including the use of Azura chemistry-free digital printing plates or Amigo low-chemistry digital plates.
SMART Papers is now offering FSC-certified premium cast-coated papers, such as Kromekote Recycled, which contains 50 percent recycled fiber content and 30 percent post-consumer waste. PI
