Spectrum Printing

To read the article about environmental printing and Spectrum in the Sydney Morning Herald, see the link below..

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/save-water-save-waste-and-smell-the-difference/2007/09/25/1190486311934.html

Greenwashing at a new level. I read a so called "fact sheet" online that was produced by a print company that claims to be "eco friendly". It was a very poor attempt at comparing the conventional printing process with waterless printing. The "fact sheet" stated that their process was just as "environmentally friendly" because they did not use alcohol, a volatile organic compound (greenhouse gas). They have two problems here. Firstly, how would you know, as a potential client, if they are using alcohol or not? The fact is they could use it on your job and you would not know. Secondly, if they are not using alcohol they are hoping you won't ask what chemical wetting agent they are using as a substitute. It is impossible to print without alcohol or an alcohol substitute ..... unless you are printing waterless. So if you are contacted by a printing company that claims not to be using alcohol, ask them what sort of chemical wetting agent or alcohol substitute they use instead. I would love to be listening in on that call! PS, if you go to the web you will find that these substitutes are still classified as VOCs, this is something else they forgot to mention!

Being Carbon Neutral. Spectrum is firstly a printing company that produces high quality work at a competitive price, however, the way we conduct our business is just as important. For nearly 14 years, Spectrum has been "doing the right thing" by providing the most environmentally preferable printing solution available. We began with waterless printing; we followed that with accreditation to the highest level of environmental certification. We then offset the emissions made by our factory and office power and the emissions from our company cars. We are now taking the next step, making Spectrum printing carbon neutral. This means our clients can be assured that when it comes to their printing requirements they are not contributing to the effects of global warming. When a business makes claims about its corporate behaviour it is essential that businesses put in place policies and actions that will withstand the inevitable scrutiny. Spectrum can add to the "preservation of brand integrity".

Confused by certification? We are. The printing industry is experiencing an explosion of environmental certifications. As far as we know printers can now be certified to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), PFSC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification) and now we have the latest one, AFSC (Australia Forest Certification Scheme) ! These standards are put in place to ensure that the paper used for printing is sourced from a sustainably managed forest and tracked through the supply chain to ensure it maintains an unbroken chain of custody. So what is the printer's roll in this? They buy the paper that has been specified by the client, the paper is quarantined then used to print the specific job. Any left overs are recycled. Has the printer cleaned up their act? Nope! No difference, they are still doing the same thing prior to certification. Mission accomplished, the printer has muddied the waters and confused any potential clients with claims of environmental accreditation. Here is another one, what is ISO 14001? Will it change what I do? It is an Environmental Management accreditation. It doesn't change the process for a less damaging method. It makes no mention of the process! Basically, if you make a mess clean it up, record what you have done and put in place activities that might stop you from doing it again.

Certification from Good Environmental Choice Australia is holistic. It includes the paper, the process, the consumables, the packaging and chain of custody for any waste products. All of these areas have to meet "worlds best practice for the environment". By the way, no printer in Australia that claims low or no VOC printing has been certified to this standard.

Making an informed environmental decision. If you really have concerns about the environment, is choosing a waterless printer the best you can do? "My printer uses recycled paper and vegetable inks, isn't that enough?" Your current printer would try to convince you that it is. We say no! Print waterless and there is no need for alcohol or nasty substitutes. Waterless printing saves on paper waste and does not waste water needlessly. (Some people say that waterless printing needs large refrigerated cooling units, not true! Come and have a look). Ask your printer if they are accredited to the highest environmental standard available.

At Spectrum we never say we are "green" or "environmentally friendly". Manufacturing print damages the environment, getting up in the morning damages the environment. If you need to buy print and you are environmentally concerned, what could be better than choosing a waterless printer that only uses waterless machines? If your printer claims to be waterless, ask for a press check so you can see for yourself!

Spectrum was the first printing company in Australia to achieve the highest level of environmental accreditation available. ISO 14001 was too easy and did not require change (see latest news for the difference between our standard and 14001). Spectrum has been awarded the "Good Environmental Choice Australia" eco label, www.geca.org.au . This means that "at every step in the printing process we have to use world's best practice for the environment."

** SEE OUR CUSTOMERS TOTAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT, GO TO "LATEST NEWS".

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