Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Sustainable Green Print cleans up business

Printing companies can now choose their level of environmental compliance customised to meet their business needs following the Printing Industries launch of its Sustainable Green Print (SGP) program.

Printing Industries’ CEO Philip Andersen said that completion of the project, which had commenced in April 2005, was an environmental milestone for the Australian printing industry.“From the outset, our goal was to develop a system to engage the maximum number of companies able to participate and therefore provide industry-wide environmental credentialing for companies of all sizes,” he said.“While ISO 14001 remains the international standard, not everyone can achieve this in, say 12-to-18 months, and many smaller companies servicing geographically limited markets would not be able to afford the resource commitment and financial cost. “Our multi-level SGP printing industry specific program recognises this and provides a choice of four audited and certified levels beginning from entry level (level 1) and progressing through to Level 3 which prepares a company for its ISO 14001audit. Level 4, industry-leading practice, goes beyond ISO standard for those companies wanting maximum accreditation.”Printing Industries Western Australian general manager, Paul Nieuwhof, project managed SGP which had its roots in the Western Australian Green Stamp program, which has been successfully running for several years.“The print industry specialist nature of SGP is such that it actually reduces the cost of achieving ISO 14001 compliance by giving you what you need to know rather than requiring you to spend time and money trying to figure it out yourself,” he said. “Sustainable Green Print provides all that at your fingertips and provides the necessary training and support to make the process as straightforward as possible.”Nieuwhof said state-based training programs had been completed and would begin around the country during February and March 2009. The levels of environmental compliance are:Level 1: Introductory level. Ideal for small to medium sized companies starting environmental sustainability compliance.Level 1 Small Printer: Introductory level for businesses employing five people or less. Level 2: Intermediate level. Lifts the environmental sustainability bar and sets your company on track for future ISO 14001 certification.Level 3: Your company should now be ready to achieve ISO 14001.Level 4: Industry-leading practice for companies wanting maximum environmental accreditation and recognition beyond ISO14001 (Minimum entry level is ISO 14001). Expressions of interest are being accepted for companies wishing to become part of a pilot group to refine best practice environmental managementAll SGP certification is audit driven and based on the Printing Industries Environmental Principles (PIEP) Environment Management system comprising comprehensive EMS documentation (worksheets, guides, and templates), a website for specialist print sector guidelines, Federal, State and Territory legislative requirements and links to other helpful resources.

Companies interested in SGP are invited to contact their State Printing Industries office on 1800 227 425 or email their expression of interest to the appropriate office: sgpnsw@printnet.com.au; sgpvic@printnet.com.au; sgpsa@printnet.com.au; sgpwa@printnet.com.au; sgpact@printnet.com.au; sgpqld@printnet.com.au

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