Ripon Printers, a leading printer of catalogs, publications, manuals and soft-cover educational products, was the subject of a corporate sustainability article appearing in Ripon Commonwealth Press. The article focused on how Ripon Printers' green manufacturing practices resulted in annual savings of $132,000 while also significantly reducing air emissions.

Strategies noted in the article, "Ripon Printers taking steps to improve air quality," included:

- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Reduction. The adoption of low- or no-VOC inks and fountain solution, along with reductions in cleanup solvent usage, help to reduce ozone creation.

- VOC Destruction. Collecting VOCs emitted during the ink drying process and then using them as a fuel source to destroy more than 99 percent of potentially harmful VOCs.  Energy recovered in the destruction process is used to heat the press dryers.

- Energy Efficiency. A variety of steps improve the company's overall efficiency. These include high-efficiency lighting, occupancy sensors, high-efficiency motors, use of outside air for cooling, reclaiming heat from a compressor room to heat a work space and numerous other measures.

"Clean air and energy efficiency driven by a comprehensive sustainability program are high priorities for the entire Ripon Printers' team," says company President Andy Lyke. "In addition to management's commitment, there is a real grassroots effort among our employees. For example, they recently organized our second successful electronics recycling day, where people could responsibly dispose of old computers, TVs and many other electronic devices.  We're all very proud of the positive impact this program has on our customers, our community and our company."