Transcript Overview of Printing Industries Environmental Initiatives
Overview of Printing Industries Environmental Initiatives
Presentation by Hagop Tchamkertenian Manager, Industry & Commercial Policy Printing Industries Association of Australia to LIA’s
“Sustainable Future” How we can be part of the solution?
Typical Lithographic Printing Process and Principal Releases to the Environment
Source: “ Environmental Management in Lithographic Printing” Rochester Institute of Technology
Guiding Principles
Encouraging the industry to adopt sustainable practices is a key element in ensuring the long term prosperity of the industry. Printing Industries management. has been working with its membership over a long period of time to build a culture within the industry that is based on sound environmental This is shown in two early publications ‘From Paper to Print – an industry’s future’ (policy statement on the environment 1991) and ‘The Green Printer’ (1994)
Guiding Principles
Printing Industries focused on: has engaged in the environmental area for a long period of time. The 1991 Policy Statement on the Environment
Sustainable development Environmental management Resource management Waste management Recycling
Guiding Principles
Industry activities have both positive and negative effects on the environment. The adverse effects need to be minimised if not eliminated.
Continuous improvement in environmental performance Processes resulting in improvements in environmental performance viewed as a benefit and not as a cost
Guiding Principles
Being a “Green Printer” can help improve the bottom line through savings in waste disposal costs and raw materials, energy consumption, insurance (address worker safety concerns), and improved company image The essential raw material of the industry – paper is a renewable/sustainable resource this gives an important incentive for the other parts of the value chain to also engage in sustainable activities
Recent Initiatives
The Environment Management Manual was first published in 1996 The Manual has since been updated twice and soon work will commence on a fourth edition The Environmental Management Manual has been designed for the printing industry as a tool for printers to identify and manage environmental issues associated with their operations. The manual has been designed to raise awareness of key environmental issues within the printing industry.
Recent Initiatives
The Environmental Management Manual includes:
An environmental assessment protocol
State/Territory and Commonwealth environmental legislation impacting on printing industry A series of guidelines to manage environmental issues ranging from solvents and chemicals to waste paper and noise Worksheets to implement improvements Inputs and outputs of various printing processes
Recent Initiatives
In 1999
Printing Industries
released the landmark report Reducing VOC solvent use in the Printing Industry The report outlined the availability, suitability and use of products which reduce air emissions in the printing industry The alternative products comprised of VOC substitutes and the report listed suppliers of those products
Recent Initiatives
Lean Manufacturing
The Victorian Region of
Printing Industries
has introduced a Lean Manufacturing program to members. There is a strong environmental focus as the program aims to reduce the volume of inputs used in the production process, whether they are water, energy or other material inputs. The program is currently being evaluated with a view to extending it to other states.
Recent Initiatives
The West Australian Region of
Printing Industries
generally. recently prepared an Action Plan committing the Association to promotion of cleaner production and eco-efficiency to the members, and to the industry Arising out of the Action Plan was the development and involvement in the Green Stamp program.
Recent Initiatives
Printing Industries
printing industry.
is working with the New South Wales department of Environment and Conservation to explore the feasibility of establishing a Cleaner Production Cluster in the
Recent Initiatives
Extended Producer Responsibility Office Papers
The NSW Government placed the industry on notice in 2004 that is was concerned with the amounts of paper ending up in landfill and declared Office Paper “a waste of concern”.
Printing Industries Papers. conducted a major research project during 2004-2005 into extended producer responsibility for Office A range of solutions were examined from which a preferred solution model emerged
Recent Initiatives
Extended Producer Responsibility Office Papers
A working group has been formed and it has been agreed to establish a Producer Responsibility Organisation for the next three years funded by voluntary industry contributions.
Failure to come up with a comprehensive industry solution by October 2006 will force the NSW Government to introduce legislation NSW Government has indicated that it will work with the other states to introduce similar legislation covering Office Papers
Recent Initiatives
Printing Industries Environmental Principles
Printing Industries formed a working party in early 2005 to develop an appropriate environmental labelling scheme for the industry. The scheme details have now been finalised and will involve a multi level system that builds on the Western Australian Green Stamp system and leads ultimately to certification under the ISO 14001 series as well as beyond ISO 14001 compliance eg triple bottom line accounting. The Environment Management Manual will be re written and a new publication “Printing Industries Environment Principles” will be produced There will also be audit and certification streams
Other Initiatives
Printing Industries is also a signatory to the “Greenhouse Challenge” and the “National Packaging Covenant” As a signatory it promotes both environmental initiatives to members and the industry, encourages continuous improvements, helps members prepare and implement action plans and acknowledges and recognises member company achievements through environmental awards
Other Initiatives
Greenhouse Challenge Scoping Study
Printing Industries management. commissioned a study in 1998 to describe the operational characteristics, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions within the industry together with recommendations and action plans for improved energy The study demonstrated that effective and efficient energy management can assist printers to reduce their energy costs and the flow on benefit of such initiatives is reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Other Initiatives
Waste Reduction in the Printing Industry Project took place in 2002 and the objectives were to:
Identify what are effective waste minimisation printing practices;
Discover waste and environmental management practices currently in use;
Disseminate the findings Key findings included:
56% of respondents to the survey component of the project reported they did not measure their wastes;
Variation across the industry in waste production and recycling is large;
Other Initiatives
Waste Reduction in the Printing Industry
The reported average spoilage rate of 7.5% is considered as good as, if not better than the rates published by Printing Industries of America – 10%; Average recycling rate (amount recycled to total waste including recycled and disposed) all respondents was 59 %.
Conclusion
As an industry our activities do impact on the environment We need to be socially responsible and help minimise or eliminate adverse impacts Being environmentally responsible can help deliver win-win outcomes for industry participants The environmental factor can give companies a competitive edge Printing Industries initiatives promotes sound environmental management practices via industry specific publications, programs and