Whether to Print or To Click Send

17 June 2008

Enviroprint Media release

Whether to Print or To Click Send

A New Zealand print company, GEON Printco, is launching Enviroprint - a new ‘whole of life’ environmental package for printing that could well help deal with “paper use guilt” in the work place.

Most workplaces are now increasingly conscious of keeping printed material to a minimum, using double siding and sending documents electronically when possible.

But GEON Business Development Manager, Tony Lile, says it can be a difficult question to balance the use of printed materials versus using other forms of communication such as the Internet and email.

“The challenge is there are always going to be occasions when it is necessary to print materials, so we’ve put together a package that ensures everything to do with the printing process and use of paper keeps impacts on the environment to a minimum.”

Mr Lile says organisations need to look at the big picture; the energy consumption and waste created by all their activities from computer use, photocopying, laser and inkjet printing through to commissioning offset print jobs.

“It’s not really about either or. It’s about overall impacts and making sure the whole life cycle of products is taken into account.”

GEON Printco’s sustainable printing package, Enviroprint, provides a complete service for environmentally responsibly printed products.

Mr Lile says sustainable printing is about more than just using recycled paper and using mineral free inks.

“Energy use is a big consideration. It takes the same power to print one A4 sheet on an inkjet or laser printer in the home or office compared to one hundred A4 pages, in colour, doubled sided, on an offset printing press. There’s also increasing worries about e-waste from computers and their overall energy consumption.”

The Enviroprint process also looks into the options of using paper from sustainably managed forests as well as recycled paper and ensuring clients print the right volumes for their needs, using soy based inks.

“Recycled paper is indeed one sustainable option, but there are occasions when sustainable forests can actually be even better for the planet, because of the carbon offset from the plantation while the trees are growing,” says Mr Lile.

“The idea with Enviroprint is that the client doesn’t need to figure all this out themselves - if they use the programme they can trust that every step of the process is made as sustainable as possible.”

Mr Lile says he realises there are companies trying to ride on the green trend without going the extra mile, and that this is making people cynical about ‘green wash’.

He says Geon Printco has taken the time to look at the whole picture of its impacts. Used plates from the printing process are recycled, as well as paper waste, plastic wrap and used ink and chemicals. Its printing plants in Kingsland and Albany are fitted with Power Factor Correction Units which significantly reduce power usage and cost.

“The idea is anyone using Enviroprint can be confident they are getting sound advice and that the sustainable practices are more than skin deep.”

ENDS

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