Big Picture - September 2017 - 21

The company's CEO, Tim Bennett, was a member of the
original SGP planning board back in 2008 and helped define
what it means to be sustainable in this business. Thus the idea
that drives the SGP - "Responsibility by all means profitability
for all" - is at the heart of Image Options' practices and policies.
"Our goal is maximum audience impact, minimum
eco-impact," says Hite. "And through our continued efforts,
we're achieving it."

Eliminate Waste, Save Money
An Image Options team member images sustainable, recycled
fabric on the shop's new EFI FabriVu 340 dye sub printer.

Because standard
banner material
doesn't biodegrade
in a landfill and
can't be recycled,
QSL is testing new
banner material
made from 100percent recycled
plastic bottles
which, even after
being printed on,
can be recycled
back into plastic
bottles.

BIGPICTURE.NET

As one of the first shops in the industry to recognize the
advantages of and begin using bio-solvents, a corn-based ink
lacking harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Image
Options has always been at the forefront of green technology,
according to company president Brian Hite. "We've always
believed in being good corporate citizens," he says. "But
there's no magic 'green' bullet to profit." Social responsibility,
he notes, takes dedication and determination. "It's in everyday
decisions that are environmentally conscious."
That's why Hite and his shop work to utilize every square
inch of material when printing, expertly orienting artwork to
maximize space on a single sheet to reduce waste that goes to
the recycling bin or landfill. This means fewer trash and recycling
pickups, which equals less money leaving the building. "Any shop
can choose to do this," says Hite. "And you don't have to worry
about employees getting on board. It's good for the environment,
it's good for the company, and it's good for paychecks."
Tracking, metrics, and documentation are also vital to
profits, adds Hite. For example, from 2011 to 2014, the
company was able to increase the amount of materials they
recycled from 17,660 pounds to nearly 26,000 pounds. They
were also able to reduce VOCs from 1350 pounds down to
just 162 pounds - an 88 percent improvement, which has the
added benefit of being great for the health of their employees
and the safety of their building.
Additional savings arose as Image Options updated their
facility, installing motion-sensing LED fixtures throughout and
swapping out their compressed air system and AC units. The
103,000-square-foot facility now uses 30 percent less electricity
per month than their previous 70,000-square-foot building.
Image Options is able to do many of these things because
they make the time to "document solvents, document
material use, document everything," according to Hite, such
as cataloging metal waste in order to gauge recycling efforts
and ensure the company sees a significant return.
They even test for metals and bio-components in the
shop's waste stream. "We've been doing this from Day One,
even before our SGP certification," says Hite. And although
getting SGP-certified initially takes time and effort, sometimes
up to nine months, it's an extremely rewarding process. "And I
should know," he continues. "We've moved twice, so we've
had to go through certification three times. But you look at
what we're doing and it's completely worth it."

With two retail storefronts, a commercial facility, and a
production facility, QSL Print Communications (qslprinting.com)
in Springfield, Oregon, has a lot of ground to cover in trying to
reduce, reuse, and recycle, but somehow this family-owned,
fourth-generation business has been providing - and profiting
from - sustainable print services for decades.
That's because QSL is aiming for zero waste. As in, none
at all. The company started down this path by recycling
everything: "One hundred percent of our aluminum press
plates. One hundred percent of our solution containers. And
100 percent of our pallets, including the straps, wood, and
cardboard," says QSL VP Melissa Koke. "Even shrink wrap."
And because the company's paper needs are sourced on a
per-job basis, there's no storage, and no waste.
QSL also uses only soy-based ink, so there are no harmful
toxins polluting the air or noxious chemicals stored in their
buildings. And utilizing digital presses allows the company to
produce shorter print runs with fewer setups, only printing
what's absolutely necessary. Their web-to-print services make
it even easier to control inventory and reduce waste.
"If you're not paying attention, all sorts of waste can add
up over time," continues Koke. "It didn't happen overnight, but
each year we got better and smarter, and we saw the efficiencies begin to add up. That all turns directly into profit."
The company maintains this level of consistency by
making it easy and convenient for employees to participate.
Beginning with early education and ensuring that everything
in the manufacturing process is labeled reduces mistakes and
prevents errors. QSL has also set up reminder signs and
recycling bins around the shop for a multitude of materials,
including plastic/glass/metal commingling, paper products,

http://www.qslprinting.com http://www.BIGPICTURE.NET

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - September 2017