2. Pollution Prevention for the Print Industry
The Print Industry
Printing in a commercial environment is a chemical-intensive industry that produces a range
of waste types. Waste comes from a variety of activities, some of the wastes are classified as
hazardous, others can be damaging to the environment if not
handled properly, although not necessarily hazardous. A list of the
types of waste that the shop owner or manager must contend
with could include things such as waste paper, ink and even time.
All waste that occurs represents loss of resources and more
importantly, a loss of money.
There are a number of solutions to reduce or even prevent waste;
many of these solutions are in action right now with many businesses within the UK.
Turning your focus to reducing the amount of waste your business generates has many
benefits, such as; reducing your operating costs, reduce waste disposal costs and also
reduce any long-term liability. In addition to this, you will be helping to sustain
environmental quality and projecting a positive company image to the public and potential
customers!
The best way to reduce any losses associated with waste is simply to
avoid producing the waste in the first place – this may sound obvious,
but you will be surprised at how much unnecessary waste your
business is currently producing and how much time could be saved.
Below are some helpful pointers to help you reduce your printing
waste, and in turn to be more environmentally friendly.
- Make it a policy within your business to maintain and monitor your print-related
waste management – ensure management are committed.
- Involve your employees – make sure your employees are aware of what methods are
in force to reduce your company waste and that they are fully able to coincide with
those methods.
- Provide initial training to employees so that they have the knowledge and the skills
to maintain this environmentally friendly way of printing – Perhaps have a list
printed above the printers as a reminder.
- Establish incentives for maintaining these waste reduction methods, or offer rewards
for ideas about changing the design or procedures of your waste reduction system.
- Run an initial assessment of your workplace print activity – Where is the most waste
being produced? Who is it by? What can be improved? What type of waste is it –
time, materials, and or reprints? You can then pinpoint the areas to improve which
will make planning your waste reduction a lot easier.
3. Housekeeping Practices
This is more often than not, the easiest and fastest way to save money and reduce waste; it
is often the cheapest place to start as well;
- Make sure that you have separate areas for actual waste and
recyclable materials.
- Ensure all materials are kept in the correct and most suitable
environment conditions to avoid inks drying out or materials
becoming damp or damaged.
- Ensure work areas are kept tidy and clean, to reduce wasted
time, ensure you label your materials and have “areas” for
each material so that everything is where it should be when
it is needed.
- Inspect materials that you order on delivery, this will reduce time should you receive
a damaged item.
- Maintain accurate records of materials so that usage can be measured and new
orders can be made just in time. Also make sure that you use the older materials
before opening the new materials.
- Inspect material supply periodically to check for damages or leaks.
Reducing Printing Wastes
There is bound to be some waste produced by your machinery, but we can try to reduce it
in as many areas as possible, as often as we can.
Inks
- Most inks can be recycled, either on-site or off-site.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Many types of waste that you use within your business can be
reduced, reused or recycled; the main example of this would be with
your paper usage.
- Ideally, you should be looking to find as many ways as possible
to reuse paper; you can use waste paper as a notebook or
scribble pad, use it as a number pad to jot down workings, or
as poster paper. You should be looking to recycle as much of
your waste paper as possible.
4. Summary
In short, while waste is being produced, there are potential methods that could reduce your
waste production. Manufacturers are constantly working with cleaner materials, materials
that can be used again and software than can help to make waste reduction easier for you,
the user. As a print industry worker, you should be open to ideas that are thrown your way
by manufacturers that are developed to reduce waste, not only as part of your commitment
to help the environment, or even to save you some time, but for the fact that helping
reduce waste not only helps everyone in the world, it also helps you and your business to
save money.
When you look at purchasing equipment, why not look for equipment that will help to
minimize both physical waste and time waste, this will mean that you are doing your bit for
the environment, but also creating a more productive method of working.
Always keep an eye out for additional methods that can be employed to help reduce waste
within your businesses operations – it will save you time and money!
Be Proud
You should be proud of the commitment that your business has
towards the environment. Why not publicize your businesses efforts
to waste reduction, customers will be able to feel good about
working with a company that is so environmentally focused.
There are manufacturers and distributers out there who will offer
stamps of approval for your website to show that you have chosen environmentally
conscious software or machinery, you may also receive certificates to place in your
reception areas for visitors and customers to see – all of this will better your image in the
eyes of the public, your partners but more importantly, your customers.
5. Help
Please do not take this guide as a list of ALL options available to reduce
waste, the number of waste reduction methods go far beyond the content of
this document, especially if you venture into a lithographic print shop when
material toxicity etc comes into play.
I have mainly focused on the digital print side of operations, although all of
the above can be used by any and all workshops.
Each and every company has a unique set up to their business, the way it runs and what
they see as an acceptable level of commitment to waste reduction. This guide simply helps
to open up some potential avenues of reduction.
There are a number of machine types, software add-ons and supply options available to you
today to help you to play your part in the reduction of your companies waste output, and
these are available to suit your individual business needs:
Apogee Corporation Ltd is a leading distributer of digital print machinery and software,
ranging from smaller desktop units to the larger production sized machines. They work very
closely with some of the world’s largest manufacturers such as; Ricoh, Canon, Toshiba and
Sharpe.
If you would like assistance in sourcing the areas within your business whereby you could
save on waste, time and money, then request a complimentary audit of not only your print
machinery, but your whole printing operation.
Apogee Corporation Ltd can be reached at 0845 250 44 99.
Consultants employed by Apogee Corporation are able to
provide you with technical assistance, information regarding
beneficial machinery and software, as well as assistance with
other areas of your business.
For more information regarding a digital office solution, please email
jstaniforth@apogeecorp.com
6. Thank you for taking the time to read and absorb the information written.
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