Screen Printing - October/November 2019 - 18

or a screen-printing business looking to improve its
reputation, grow its customer base, and control costs,
making the company more environmentally friendly might
not immediately come to mind as a good strategy. But
perhaps it should.
Customers are increasingly concerned about the environmental performance of print shops. Dominic Rosacci, CEO
of Superior Ink Printing (superiorinkprinting.com) and a
2018 Screen Printing Rising Stars Award winner, has seen a
surge of customers demanding high-quality, ethically sourced
garments during the last two years. He is encouraged by this
trend because he has positioned Superior Ink as an industry
leader in sustainability and social responsibility.
The path toward more sustainable, less wasteful manufacturing can seem overwhelming. There are multiple aspects
to consider, from materials choices and waste disposal to
employee training on efficient practices. Switching from
conventional to water-based inks isn't straightforward.
Buying recycled materials often requires increasing the
supply budget. Meeting regulations that vary from state to
state can be confusing.
Certifications are one way to streamline a company-wide
environmental audit. They define a prescribed path toward
goals and offer recognition from peers and customers at the
end of the process. By taking advantage of an established
framework, businesses can evaluate their current practices
and make changes that are in line with their company's culture
and resonate with their customers.
Various types of certifications are available and can cover
a specific product or an entire company's operations. The
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC), for example, certify wood and paper products. Print shops can choose to buy only paper that meets the
chain of custody standards from SFI or FSC. These standards
guarantee that materials are made from wood harvested from
well-managed, certified forests. The chain of custody applies
to every change of ownership and requires tracking from
harvest through paper production and sale of the end product.
Company-wide certifications are much more comprehensive.
The cost ranges from free to tens of thousands of dollars per
year. Some programs rely on self-reporting and offer a stamp
or logo that isn't especially meaningful. The most rigorous
certifications require third-party verification and site visits to
ensure that a company's claims are valid.
These rigorous certifications require a substantial
investment of time over several months or more, which means
paying for employees or external consultants to implement
the process, even if the certification itself doesn't charge a fee.
Going through certification often sheds light on opportunities
to not only reduce a company's carbon footprint but decrease
expenses as well. For example, recycling and reusing
solvents in-house reduces consumables costs and hazardous
waste disposal fees. Therefore, many businesses decide
that devoting employee time to pursuing certification is
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SCREENPRINTING

financially a good move in the long run, especially if doing so
gives them an advantage in the market.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
offers a dizzying array of standards, including several related
to sustainability. ISO 14001:2015, Environmental Management
System, requires businesses to develop and document a
system but doesn't specify exact performance requirements.
In industries where ISO 14001 certification is the norm,
companies that ignore it risk losing reputation and market
share. In the printing industry, where ISO 14001 certification
is not common, most shops decide the time and expense of
pursuing it is not worthwhile. Regional or industry-specific
certifications usually offer a much better return on investment.

REGIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
For print shops located in geographical regions where
sustainability is a key aspect of the area's culture, regional
certifications provide a route toward building a local
reputation. Superior Ink, based in Denver, took this
approach when deciding to pursue the Certifiably Green
Denver (CGD) certification. CGD promotes several benefits
for certified businesses: automatic compliance with local
and state regulations, cost savings from reduced resource
use, enhanced reputation in the community, and recognition
through free advertising.
CGD is free for local companies. It includes specific rules for
six types of businesses, one of which is print shops. Print shops
must meet criteria in five categories: business management,
energy efficiency, water conservation, resource management,
and transportation. The guidelines outline precise requirements such as using FSC or SFI certified paper and choosing
either vegetable-based inks or conventional inks with low or

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Screen Printing - October/November 2019

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