QUESTION I am a digital printer how can I start to become more environmentally aware? answer
QUESTION To what extent can the issue of green procurement affect printers? answer
QUESTION As a digital printer, should I be concerned about hazardous waste? answer
QUESTION Why should printers be addressing the amount of packaging they use? answer
Jan 07 Q I am a digital printer
how can I start to become more environmentally aware?
A Businesses in all industry sectors
are beginning to recognise the significant benefits
of becoming more environmentally conscious. Digital
printers are no exception and have much to gain by addressing
their resource use. The first step in becoming more
resource efficient is to measure how much – in
quantity and cost – the company wastes. By becoming
more aware of the waste streams they produce, printers
can start to make real cost savings. Responsible disposal
of toners and ink cartridges, for example, can be an
expensive process.
However, printers could speak to their ink/equipment
suppliers to find out whether a re-fill or take-back
service is available. Becoming involved in a scheme
such as this could cut disposal costs significantly
over a period of time. Substrate is another key area
of environmental concern. Digital substrate costs up
to £3,000 per tonne – much higher than that
of traditional print media. To maximise use and avoid
waste, printers should choose appropriate widths and
consider optimising layout, for example by nesting.
Depending on the type of substrate, printers may also
be able to recycle any waste. Hazardous waste has also
become a key issue for printers.
Last year’s regulations brought in new controls
and procedures for the movement of wastes, as well as
increased responsibility on the producer for the wastes
generated. Many solvent-based inks and washes need to
be separated from general wastes and disposed of as
hazardous waste. As regular purchasers of equipment,
printers should be aware of the forthcoming WEEE Directive
which is likely to affect businesses when they buy new
print equipment, as they may be responsible for the
item’s eventual disposal. Attention should be
paid to the contractual agreement offered when choosing
and purchasing equipment as there may be an opportunity
to negotiate – and therefore minimise or avoid
disposal costs.
Feb 07 Q
To what extent can the issue of green procurement affect
printers?
A The commercial
world is placing an increased emphasis on green issues,
and companies should not underestimate the weight environmental
credentials can carry in terms of winning and retaining
business. This is particularly true of the print sector
where the market is tough and companies are constantly
striving for ways to maintain a competitive edge. As the
environment rides high on the customer agenda, print buyers
– many of whom have their own CSR policies to adhere
to – are responding by asking their suppliers to
demonstrate positive environmental credentials. In a tender
process, this can mean that printers who do not have an
environmental policy already in place are discounted as
early as the pre-qualification stage.
Being able to demonstrate green procurement should form
an important part of this environmental policy, and is
a useful first step for printers looking to make efficiencies
in their operations. Largely driven by Government and
consumer trends, buyers are placing increased pressure
on printers to address the fibre source of the substrate,
the use of solvents and other chemicals, as well as their
carbon emissions. Envirowise recommends that printers
consider these factors early on in their own procurement
stage. This includes identifying where greener alternatives
can be used, and how materials that become waste can be
reduced at the outset. For example, a key green procurement
challenge for most digital printers is substrate selection.
While the use of 100% recycled substrate is not always
a viable option, printers who set a recommended level
of recycled content as a benchmark could benefit in terms
of customer loyalty - and the ability to charge a premium
for using sustainable stock. But while the argument for
green procurement is growing ever stronger, many printers
may not know where to start – and this is where
Envirowise can help. The website has a section dedicated
to printers at www.envirowise.gov.uk/printing. Advice
and support is also available by calling the helpline
on 0800 585 794.
March 07 Q
As a digital printer, should I be concerned about hazardous
waste?
ADefinitely! In July 2005, Hazardous Waste Regulations,
bringing in new controls and procedures for the movement
of commercial waste materials, came into force in England
and Wales. Wastes of concern to the printing sector as
a whole include printing inks (where they contain dangerous
substances such as metallic pigments or organic solvents)
and cleaning solutions where they contain solvents. And
while digital printers do not produce the same level of
hazardous waste as other print sectors, the regulations
are still likely to be applicable to your business. It
is important that your company is familiar with the materials
you use and the wastes you dispose of. For example, some
ink cartridge systems use solvent-based inks and cleaning
fluids which would classify them as hazardous waste. They
must therefore be segregated from general waste and disposed
of separately.
It is also worth noting that the revised regulations can
also apply to common items such as fluorescent tubes,
batteries and computer monitors. Most producers of hazardous
waste in England and Wales must register with the Environment
Agency. Some premises will be exempt from this requirement
and the Environment Agency website has advice on this.
The cheapest way to register (£18 per premises)
is by completing the forms online at the Environment Agency's
web site. As a registered producer, printers must ensure
that their hazardous waste is stored, handled, recycled
or disposed of safely, separately and legally. This means
doublechecking that any waste contractors you use hold
the correct licence for the job. And, any transfer of
hazardous waste between your business and another business
will also need to be recorded using a consignment note.
These notes must be kept for at least three years according
to Environment Agency guidelines. However, compliance
isn’t the only issue here. By taking a systematic
approach to waste management, digital printers could identify
valuable cost savings - an incentive that many cannot
afford to ignore in this increasingly competitive market.
To this end, we would recommend that readers also explore
possibilities for using alternative materials and practices
where possible that reduce the production of hazardous
waste at source. More information on tackling hazardous
waste is available at www.envirowise.gov.uk/hazardous.
Free advice for all areas of the UK is also available
via the Envirowise Helpline on 0800 585794. Please note
that different arrangements for hazardous waste are in
place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
April 07 Q
Why should printers be addressing the amount of packaging
they use?
A Whether you
are a small copy shop, exhibition graphics company or
digital department of a larger litho printer, packaging
is definitely something you should have on your agenda.
More specifically, you should be aware of the amount of
packaging you use on a daily, monthly and annual basis
and have a good understanding of how it is designed, manufactured
and disposed of. This could include everything from protective
materials used for storage or transport, to consumer packaging
you have helped design and print for a finished product.
The latter is important because any company that designs,
specifies or produces packaging – including imported
packaging – must comply with the Packaging (Essential
Requirements) Regulations 2003. Digital printers may increasingly
find themselves in a position where they are asked to
specify or input to the design of product packaging. Many
retailers, for example, are now considering the wider
environmental impact of the products they sell and seeking
more eco-friendly approaches to packaging design from
their suppliers.
The Essential Requirements say that the volume and weight
of packaging must be limited to the bare minimum required
to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and
consumer acceptance. Packaging must also be designed,
produced and commercialised in such a way as to permit
its re-use or recovery, including recycling, and to minimise
its impact on the environment. In practice, this means
that printers may have to negotiate with their suppliers
on the type of materials required for a particular job
– or discuss the implications of packaging design
with a wider project team. More information on this topic
is available at www.envirowise.gov.uk/cleanerdesign Over
the longer term, anything printers can do to reduce or
re-use protective and transit packaging will help lower
costs and reduce raw material use.
Companies that handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging
annually and have a turnover of more than £2 million
must register with the Environment Agency (in England
and Wales) or a suitable compliance scheme under the Producer
Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.
More information can be found at www.envirowise.gov.uk/packaging
Finally, it is also worth thinking about how to reduce,
re-use or recycle the packaging that you receive on incoming
raw materials. For example, it may be possible to work
with suppliers to reduce the amount of packaging generated,
or to arrange for packaging to be returnable for re-use.
