Impressions - August 2014 - 40

Starting a recycling program can result in monetary
beneﬁts, such as reducing your cost of trash pickup, or getting
money back on cardboard, plastic or metal.

certainly false. For example, if you promote
your company as an SGP- or ISO-certiﬁed
green printer, but it actually is not, you are
guilty of this.
Sin of Worshipping False Labels. This
is committed when a product, via words or
images, gives the impression of third-party
endorsement, where no such endorsement
actually exists. Translation: Fake labels. An
example could be where you simply invent
your sustainability claims for your product
line or shop that simply aren't accurate.
Calling something "eco" doesn't make it
true, even if it has a really great logo.

WHAT CAN I DO?
For shops that want to start a sustainability program - or simply give an existing program a boost - here are a few tips
to get started:
Form a sustainability committee. Gather some key stakeholders in your company
and form a brain trust to build your program. Start with asking questions. Why do
you need a sustainability program? What
will the beneﬁts be? What are some easy
things you can do to score some quick sustainable touchdowns? Who will be responsible for each task? Set some goals.
Get an energy audit. Most utility companies offer this service for free and will
visit your shop for an audit. They will
write a report that details important items
for your shop and give you a "grocery list"
of recommendations to handle.
Look to your equipment. A lot of shops
have older or outdated equipment. Take
some time to look and see if upgrading to
newer models or a different method will
save you money. Just because something
works now doesn't mean there isn't a better
option available that will lower your operating costs, speed your workﬂow and increase
40

Impressions | August 2014

your employees' satisfaction with their jobs.
Don't just "put up with it" like you have for
years; replace that outdated equipment with
newer - and probably better - equipment.
Look for air leaks from your compressors. It's been estimated that for every air
leak in your shop, you are spending $600
annually to keep your air compressor cycling so that the pressure constant. If you
can hear it, ﬁx it.
Start a recycling program. This should
not be limited to soda cans and plastic
water bottles, but it can include other materials, too. Build a way to keep track of
the metrics. You actually can make some
money doing this, as recyclers may pay you
for your cardboard, metal or polybag remnants. Recycling also means less material
going to landﬁlls, so you can reduce your
dumpster pickup frequency, which also
saves you money.
Talk to your supply chain. Many companies have products that can help lower
your volatile organic compounds (VOC),
improve your production while using less
consumable materials or other solutions.
You won't know about it unless you ask.
Research local, state or national sustainability programs. Your area may offer guidance, training, low-interest loans - even
free grant money - for starting or implementing sustainable ideas for your company.
Get certiﬁed through the SGP. This
is a great way to be an industry leader
and leverage your work on sustainability.
Specialty Graphic Imaging Association
(SGIA) offers a peer-to-peer network that
features webinars designed to walk shop
owners through the process of getting certiﬁed and building their programs. Find
more information at sgia.org.
In the end, take a step back and look
at your company through the eyes of your

A GREEN
Offense
Sustainability is a journey
through continuous improvement. You don't have to be
perfect, but you do have to be
accurate in how you represent
your claims.
Nowadays, more companies
are looking to capitalize on the
focus of the ever-increasing need
to source apparel decoration
through a greener supply chain.
If you market to the retail sector, you will be constantly seeing
this and hearing about it through
purchasing managers - if you
haven't already. Most companies
start a sustainability program as a
defensive measure to lower operating costs and become stronger.
Obtaining a third-party certiﬁcation through SGP or ISO leverages your work into an offensive
posture, as your sustainability
program becomes a marketable
skill. Retail buyers already are
looking for SGP-certiﬁed printers
to help with their needs. This is
when your sustainability program
becomes a competitive edge.
- M.A.

customers or even the federal government.
If your sustainability program doesn't
quite meet the smell test, maybe you
should change directions and implement
something that is on a ﬁrmer foundation
by building a program that works.
If you need help or advice on how to
get started, or the beneﬁts of getting certiﬁed through the SGP, I would be happy to
help you. Just send me an email and let's
get started today.
Marshall Atkinson is the chief operating ofﬁcer of Visual Impressions Inc., and
Ink to the People, Milwaukee, Wis. A frequent contributor to Impressions, Marshall
also lectures on sustainability at Imprinted
Sportswear Shows (ISS) events and has participated in numerous industry webinar panel discussions. He is on the board of directors
for the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), and serves on the SGIA Leadership Committee. For more information or to
comment on this article, email Marshall at
matkinson4804@gmail.com.
impressionsmag.com

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Impressions - August 2014

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