Eco-Support

As green becomes a hotter and hotter issue, more organizations are embracing it, with this April’s FESPA Digital show in Europe providing an example. There, attendees will be able to follow the “green run,” a trail of exhibitors, whose products or solutions have earned FESPA’s green “Planet Friendly” badge, indicating that they make a positive contribution to environmentally responsible production. This trail is supported by FESPA’s Planet Friendly Guide, a publication setting out environmental issues affecting digital shops and screen printers and offering suggestions and solutions.

In addition, shops wanting more information on how they can green up their company can look to these organizations for help and support:

* The Specialty Graphics Imaging Association (SGIA, www.sgia.org) stays up-to-date with national, state, and local regulations and requirements, as well as gathering compliance and training resources.

* Geared toward shops with commercial, screen, and digital-printing technologies, the Printers’ National Environmental Assistance Center (PNEAC, www.pneac.org) monitors environmental issues related to the printing, publishing, and packaging industries, including environmental compliance and pollution prevention.

* The National Environmental Health & Safety Conference (www.nehsconference.org) is taking place in March in Indianapolis. Sponsored by GATF, SGIA, and other industry organizations, the annual conference explores solutions to environmental, health, safety, and human-resource issues for a wide variety of printing technologies, including digital. The 2-day conference features discussion on topics from how to become a sustainable green printer to updates on electrical and fire safety, as well as international standards and regulations.

* Every state has an OSHA Consultation Service. Companies can request a health and safety audit, conducted by the state-sanctioned consultant service. By requesting this free service, the company agrees to implement changes based on the consultant’s findings. In addition, many qualified private consultants know and understand compliance obligations.