Two SGIA member companies — ProGraphix and Visual Marking Systems — have earned certification under the Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership. To achieve this certification, the SGP Partnership requires a facility to set annual sustainability objectives (goals).

“SGP certification allows credibility and continuous education for VMS to do business better. Being a member of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership can open new doors to solutions for VMS, and provide economical, social and environmental improvements, to us and our customers,” said Dolf Kahle, CEO of Visual Marking Systems.

As defined, SGP provides a benchmark for print facilities’ sustainability endeavors. Its criteria covers the product, input materials used to produce products such as substrates, inks and coatings; the manufacturing process, involving press equipment and supporting technology; and the envelope, the facility in its entirety, its energy consumption, employees and supporting activities.

Nicki Macfarlane, of ProGraphix, had this to say, looking forward: “Sustainability is an ongoing process that is extremely important because our future depends on it. We need to make positive, proactive steps now in order to avoid limiting the choices of future generations. This does not mean having to stifle future development. On the contrary, it means conserving the supply of resources so that we can sustain future development.”

SGIA’s 4-Step Sustainability Action Plan resource helps imagers develop a successful sustainability management system in their printing facility, and prepares them for SGP certification, if they choose. For more information, visit SGIA.org,Keyword: 4Steps.