What Makes a Printer Environmentally Friendly?

The "Green era" is upon us, after hundreds of years destroying the planet, human kind has finally decided to take care of Earth. Governments across the globe are at last trying to set up schemes so industries will reduce their CO2 emissions, one of the major players in the global warming game.

One industry that has been investing big to work under the "eco friendly" label is the Printing industry. Over the years Printers have upgraded their printing facilities to reduce carbon footprint as well as reduce environmental impact by working with biodegradable inks and recycled papers.

But like in other industries, there are many Printers saying that have the rights to work under the "green printing label" when they don't. This brings us to the sole purpose of this article. What makes a printer environmentally friendly?

To be considered an environmentally friendly Printer first and foremost, the Printer must earn a series of green credentials like the ISO 14001 Certificate.

The ISO 14001 is an international standard that specifies the actual requirements for an EMS (Environmental Management System). The ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standards exist to help organisations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment and cause adverse changes to air, water, or land. They comply with applicable laws, regulations and other environmentally oriented requirements and continually improve on the above.

This certificate is not an easy one to obtain it requires planning and investments of time and money that is why it is one of the most respected green credentials there is.

Another well respected credential is the one from the FSC - Forest Stewardship Council - a certification system that provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organisations, and communities interested in responsible forestry.

The FSC certification is very similar to the PEFC - the world's largest forest certification system. The PEFC works throughout the entire forest supply chain to promote good practice in the forest and to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. Thanks to its eco-label, customers and consumers are able to identify products from sustainably managed forests.

Other green credentials will vary from country to country. There is a hand full of local green credentials a Printer could earn to reinforce their environmental concern and really earn that "Green Printing Label".

Type of Paper used

Many Printers are opting for recycled paper but quality might not be as good as normal paper. By earning the FSC & PEFC certifications a Printer assures the paper that is being used comes from sustainable managed forests.

Reducing Carbon Footprint

There are many ways to reduce a printing facility carbon footprint. Reducing energy consumption is the major player here and my suggestion is to hire an energy consultancy firm to do a Carbon Trust Survey, which will indentify areas, where energy could be saved reducing the Mill's carbon footprint.

If a Printer complies with all those items mentioned above it sure has the rights to work under the "Green Printing Label".