SGIA program recognizes specialty imaging companies as they take steps to develop a sustainable business ethic

Fairfax, Virginia - Six domestic and two international SGIA member companies were recently honored with SGIA’s Sustainability Recognition Award. The program was designed to encourage adoption of sustainable business practices by the SGIA membership.

The following companies were recognized for their sustainable business efforts through the SGIA Sustainability Recognition Program:

• BIG INK Display Graphics (St. Paul, Minnesota)
• GFX International (Grayslake, Illinois)
• Global Products Inc. (Saint Peters, Missouri)
• Kent Pad Printer Canada Inc. (Markham, Ontario, Canada)
• Laird Plastics (Boca Raton, Florida)
• Marabu GmbH & Co KG (Tamm, Germany)
• Modernistic (Stillwater, Minnesota)
• Visual Impressions Inc. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

To qualify, companies were required to submit a copy of their sustainability policy and a description of their continuous improvement project during the past year. The policy, however, is only the first step in developing a sustainability management system (SMS). Next, companies must think about how to put policy commitments into action, as part of a program to be implemented one at a time over a several-year period, evidencing a commitment to continued sustainability.

Visual Impressions made developing a recycling program their primary goal for 2013. Partnering with a local provider, they have since recycled over 32 tons of paper, plastic, cardboard and metal. Visual Impressions also achieved certification from the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP).

Marabu GmbH & Co. established their main environmental project as achieving ISO 9001 and 14001 certification for subsidiaries in China, the United States, Sweden and Brazil. In preparation for the certification audits, the environmental manager for each location wrote a guideline that shows all environmental requirements, processes and documents in the particular local language.

Modernistic Inc. set a goal of reducing the volume of wax in their screen making area by 46 percent. Through their purchase of a new screen making machine, there is no longer a need for plotting opaque wax in the process, eliminating shipping costs, as well as wax purchases, and the non-toxic water soluble wax is no longer washed into the wastewater stream.

Global Products Inc. focused their sustainability goals in several areas:

• Reducing their carbon footprint by 10 percent through consolidation of two distribution centers into one and freight reduction
• Increasing the efficiency of heating, cooling and ventilation systems by 10 percent through new energy efficient appliances
• Reducing material waste within the direct embroidery department by 10 percent by purchasing four new machines with expanded capabilities to replace older, less efficient models

SGIA members can also learn how to develop sustainable business practices through SGIA’s Peer-to-Peer Network. Each group meets every other week and is led by Marci Kinter, vice president of government and business information. By working together, each company can develop a roadmap that leads to successful integration and certification under the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership. For more information, please visit SGIA.org, or email [email protected].