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Most printers are aware of the issues surrounding global warming. In fact they may well be sick of 'environmental speak.' What they really want to know is how their company can benefit from adopting best practice and what that best practice really entails.
Prism promises to help by providing a guide that is specifically written for digital and screen printers. The Planet Friendly Guide has been financed by FESPA and is billed as the definitive information resource for the industry.
One of the authors of the guide, Paul Machin, explained: "Whether climate change and global warming is taking place or not, it is a subject that printers must be aware of if they wish to continue in business over the next decade. Why? Because the European Union (EU) commission believes it is an issue that needs addressing. They will be taking potential punitive action to ensure corrective measures are implemented. This action will have a direct impact upon printers and their customers."
The general public's perceptions can have a serious impact on the printer. Many people believe that all chemicals are hazardous and any activity associated with the use of chemicals is dangerous to mankind and the environment. Printing is tainted by this presumption and will be radically affected by the EU's Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restrictions of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.
To succeed there are some guidelines a printer must follow:
- Ignore the arguments for or against climate change and global warming
- Accept that the EU will continue to impose further controls on environmental issues
- Recognise that improvements in a company's environmental performance will enhance profitability
- Examine each section of the Planet Friendly Guide to ascertain which best available technique (BAT) will produce the quickest profit for the company
- Set out a priority list of BATs taking into consideration the available management and staff resource as well as the customer's known technical and environmental requirements
- Inform and encourage staff to participate in the selected projects
- Implement these projects at the earliest opportunity to demonstrate the commencement to a "green" approach towards the environment
- Review the cost savings of the BATs undertaken at least every six months
- Ensure your customers are aware of your approach to environmental issues particularly where these are externally monitored as most will recognise the benefit of trading with environmentally aware suppliers
- At least once per year review which other BAT can be incorporated into the company's environmental program
As an example, BATs for reducing VOC emissions into the atmosphere range from keeping the lids on solvent based inks to regenerative oxidation. BATs for reducing the cost of waste substrate can be as simple as sorting paper waste to installing a compacter. Furthermore, an increase of 5°C inlet air temperature at the compressor causes an increase of about two per cent of the power needed, so it makes sense to draw inlet air from outside the building. Implementing such measures will ultimately build a printer's bank balance.
Every BAT has been scientifically proven and the vast majority will reduce the waste generated within the total print generation process. Any reduction in waste will automatically result in an increase in profitability, which is the greatest advantage of using the Planet Friendly Guide.
Prism is a member of Fespa and the UK association for print specialists and manufacturers. For more information on Prism, go to www.prismuk.org. If you have any comments or questions, please call on 01737 240792.
How many of your customers have asked about the carbon footprint of your printing service?
