Your Options in 'Green' Printers
Regarding the book manufacturing industry’s commitment to “green” principles, it could be said that a page has truly turned. Over the past decade, consideration of climate impacts and paper sourcing has become central to the industry’s approach, and, along the way, many manufacturers have discovered ways to balance the need to economize, invest in infrastructure and reduce environmental impacts—often through innovative policies and practices that manage to do all three.
“I feel there’s been a shift on the manufacturing side and also on the paper side,” says Kevin Spall, president of Dexter, Mich.-based book manufacturer Thomson-Shore. “When we make business decisions … there is an environmental piece associated with that acquisition or that improvement in process, a component that in the past was not part of the discussion, and now is part of every discussion.”
In the past few years, many manufacturers have gone from cursory efforts at conservation to instituting targeted, comprehensive “green” initiatives—truly a move from the margins to the center of corporate consciousness. Thomson-Shore, for instance, has incorporated major cost- and resource-saving projects into its overall strategic plan.
Much of this progress, Spall says, is driven by increased demand from publishers for “green” products. “The more aware publishers and the reading community at large are about these issues, the more demand that will create,” he notes. “As the shift occurred with printers and publishers, I think [environmental groups] are clearly in a much better position, where now they can say, ‘OK, the initial phase of ‘Do you believe us?’ is past. What’s the next important step for us to take as an industry?’”
Tyson Miller, executive director of the Green Press Initiative, agrees there has been a shift in consciousness. “Consumer awareness and concern for this issue has only increased in recent years, and I think this has a ripple effect that will continue to make this issue relevant for years to come,” he says. Attention to “green” initiatives offers more than just good publicity; research shows that companies committed to environmental leadership are performing better in this economy than those that are not, while steps to increase lighting efficiency—an important component of many efficiency efforts—can cut energy consumption as much as 20 percent, Miller reports.
An increasing number of printers also are committing to tangible benchmarks for reducing the use of fiber from endangered forests. “I think that continued progress to create scale for recycled and [certified] papers ... is a need area,” says Miller, who expects costs of recycled fiber to eventually dip below virgin. “Likewise, I think more printers will be looking at taking advantage of every opportunity area to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs.”
Here is Book Business’ list of many of today’s options in “greener” book manufacturing.
Arvato
Berryville Graphics, Berryville, VA
540-955-2750
Coral Graphics, Hicksville, NY
516-576-2100; ArvatoPrintUSA.com
Arvato subsidiary Mohn Media was one of the first printers to gain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification in 2003. Other subsidiaries, including Coral Graphics’ Louisville, Kentucky, site, have since been FSC certified.
Bang Printing*
Brainerd, MN
800-328-0450; BangPrinting.com
Bang Printing purchased FSC-certified Delta Printing Solutions in September 2008. The following month, Bang Printing became FSC certified, and has since met Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standards for fiber sourcing, chain-of-custody and forest labels, and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) chain-of-custody standards.
Bethany Press*
Bloomington, MN
888-717-7400; BethanyPress.com
Offers both free sheet and groundwood paper options. Free sheet is produced with 10-percent or 30-percent post-consumer waste (PCW) and is FSC certified. It offers a 10-percent PCW cover stock and is instituting a process for recycling ink, becoming certified for FSC chain-of-custody and developing alternative soft-proofing systems to reduce the need for shipping proofs.
Bookmasters
Ashland, OH
800-537-6727; BookMasters.com
Offers 10-, 30- and 100-percent PCW paper options. Uses FSC-certified paper mills and biodegradable inks, and maintains a comprehensive recycling program.
Brady Palmer Printing Co.
Carmel, NY
800-783-3097; BradyPalmer.com
Offers 10- and 40-percent PCW paper.
Color House Graphics
Grand Rapids, MI
800-454-1916; ColorHouseGraphics.com
Offers 10- and 30-percent PCW paper. Paper contains FSC fiber.
Courier Corp.
N. Chelmsford, MA
978-251-6000; Courier.com/ccorp
Offers 10- and 30-percent PCW paper. Is FSC certified. Uses low-volatile organic compounds (VOC) inks and emissions-cutting technology. Recycles most manufacturing by-products.
Delta Printing Solutions Inc. (owned by Bang Printing)
Valencia, CA
800-323-3582; DeltaPrintingSolutions.com
Offers 10-, 30-, 40- and 100-percent PCW paper.
Dickinson Press
Grand Rapids, MI
616-957-5100; DickinsonPress.com
Offers 20-, 30-, 50- and 100-percent PCW paper, most sourced from mills that are FSC or SFI certified. Papers contain FSC fiber. Shipping cartons used are made from 35-percent to 100-percent recycled fiber. The company has taken steps to lower binding temperatures (reducing VOCs), and reduce on-site waste and emissions. It recycles most manufacturing by-products, and was recipient of the 2007 Responsible Recycling Award from Great Lakes Recycling.
Digital Graphix*
Dulles, VA
703-834-1120; DGXpod.com
Edwards Brothers
Ann Arbor, MI
734-769-1000; EdwardsBrothers.com
Offers 30- and 50-percent PCW papers, and is FSC and SFI certified. Uses soy- and vegetable-based inks and has upgraded to more efficient manufacturing equipment. Recycles or reuses more than 97 percent of raw materials entering the plant (goal is 99 percent), including providing paper dust for use as bedding for local horses.
Fidlar Doubleday*
Davenport, IA
800-248-0888; FidlarDoubleday.com
Friesens Corp.*
Neche, ND
204-324-6401; Friesens.com
Friesens Corp. practices recycling or re-use of plates, ink drums and waste paper. It was Canada’s first FSC-certified book manufacturer (2003), and in 2008 opened a no-VOC-emission, high-efficiency printing plant.
Fry Communications Inc.
Mechanicsburg, PA
800-334-1429; FryComm.com
Offers 10- and 30-percent PCW, and is FSC certified.
Hamilton Printing Co.
Castleton, NY
800-242-4222; HPCBook.com
Offers 50-percent PCW paper.
Houghton Boston
Saskatoon, SK Canada
306-664-3458; HoughtonBoston.com
Offers 100-percent PCW paper options.
IBT Global*
Troy, NY
518-271-5117; IntegratedBook.com
Offers 30- and 50-percent PCW options, and is in the process of becoming FSC certified.
IPC Print Co.
St. Joseph, MI
888-563-3231; IPCPrintServices.com
Received FSC chain-of-custody certification. Has taken steps to reduce VOC and other emissions at its Michigan plant and has made a major commitment to recycling paper and aluminum.
King Printing Co.*
Lowell, MA
978-458-2345; KingPrinting.com
Is FSC and SFI certified, and offers 10-, 30-, 50- and 100-percent PCW paper.
Lehigh Phoenix
Hagerstown, MD
301-733-0018; PhoenixColor.com
Offers FSC- and SFI-certified paper options, as well as inks derived from vegetable oil. Rosin-based resins used in printing process reduce VOCs.
Lightning Source
La Vergne, TN
615-213-5815; LightningSource.com
Offers 30-percent PCW paper.
Malloy
Ann Arbor, MI
800-722-3231; Malloy.com
Offers 10- and 30-percent PCW paper. Has dual FSC and SFI chain-of-custody certification. Recycles nearly all manufacturing by-products, including electronics, aluminum, copper, ink, batteries, stretch wrap and film. Has worked to reduce VOCs including purchase of Timson press designed to reduce solvent use by 50 percent.
Maple-Vail Book Manufacturing Group*
York, PA
717-764-5911; Maple-Vail.com
Offers 10-, 15-, 30- and 100-percent PCW paper. Has received FSC and SFI certification for York, Pa., plant, and certification is in process for Binghamton, N.Y., facility. Recycles most manufacturing by-products. Worked with Amerikal to reduce VOC emissions through innovative ink chemistry process.
Marquis Imprimeur Inc.
Cap-Saint-Ignace, Québec
418-246-5666; MarquisImprimeur.com
Offers 10-, 30- and 100-percent PCW paper. FSC certified.
McNaughton & Gunn*
Saline, MI
734-429-5411; BookPrinters.com
Offers 30- and 50-percent PCW paper and is FSC certified. It was the first printer in Michigan to receive an award from the Michigan Great Printers Project in recognition of ongoing waste-reduction efforts. It has comprehensive recycling and VOC reduction programs, including elimination of the use of 20,000 pounds of isopropyl alcohol in press-dampening process.
NPC
Claysburg, PA
800-847-5757; NPCWeb.com
Is FSC and SFI certified. Engages in comprehensive recycling and waste-management practices.
Odyssey Press Inc.*
Gonic, NH
603-749-4433; OdysseyPress.com
Offers 30- to 100-percent PCW paper options and is FSC certified. It has reduced waste and manufacturing impact with soy inks, paper and press-plate recycling. Offers paper stock manufactured using biogas energy.
P.A. Hutchinson Co.
Mayfield, PA
800-USA-PRNT; PAHutch.com
Offers 25- and 30-percent PCW and FSC paper options. Timson press minimizes paper waste.
Pinnacle Press*
St. Louis
800-760-0010; PinnaclePress.com
Offers 10- and 40-percent PCW paper and is FSC certified. Received a 2007 Environmental Leadership Certificate from New Leaf Paper.
Quebecor World Inc.
Montreal
800-567-7070; QuebecorWorld.com
Is triple-certified for chain of custody (FSC, SFI, PEFC). Inks contain up to 20-percent renewable resources; ink solvents are recycled or reused. Has installed technology that nearly eliminates emissions from the heatset printing processes.
RR Donnelley
Chicago
312-326-8000; RRDonnelley.com
Many printing facilities—including all U.S., Canada and China operations, as well as Reynosa, Mexico operation—are FSC certified. It is pursuing SFI and PEFC certifications. It recycles or reuses most manufacturing by-products.
Sheridan Books Inc.
Ann Arbor, MI
800-999-2665; SheridanBooks.com
FSC certified. Offers 10-, 30- and 40-percent PCW paper options.
Starnet Media Group*
Allendale, NJ
800-242-7301; StarDesign.com
Taylor Publishing Co.
Dallas
214-819-8100; TaylorPub.com
Triple-certified (FSC, SFI, PEFC). Maintains comprehensive pollution prevention, waste-management and recycling programs.
Thomson-Shore*
Dexter, MI
734-426-3939; TShore.com
Offers 10-, 30-, 50- and 100-percent PCW paper. It is replacing house sheets with FSC-certified grades. Recycles most manufacturing by-products, including paper, ink, plates, waste sludge, oil and film scraps. Timson cold-set web press virtually eliminates VOCs. Strategic plan includes 50-percent reduction in landfill footprint by 2015.
Transcontinental Printing
Saint-Laurent, Québec
800-337-8560; Transcontinental-Printing.com
FSC certified. Offers 50- and 80-percent PCW paper. Products are Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) compliant (do not contain volatile chemicals). Promotes efficiency, waste reduction in operations, and VOC-reduction program targets reduction of vapors and substitution of volatile solvents in press cleaning.
Victor Graphics
Baltimore
410-233-8300; VictorGraphics.com
Offers 30-percent PCW paper options. All paper comes from FSC- and SFI-certified mills. Recycles nearly all manufacturing by-products.
Walsworth
Marceline, MO
800-369-2646; WalsworthYearbooks.com
Is FSC certified. Recycles or reuses most manufacturing by-products. Uses vegetable-based inks and low-VOC solvents. Has implemented manufacturing efficiencies including Energy Star motors and appliances.
Webcom Inc.*
Toronto
800-665-9322; WebcomLink.com
Offers 30- and 100-percent PCW options (digital and offset). Has set a target of 40-percent overall recycled-paper usage by 2012. Uses all vegetable-based ink, cold-set (low VOC) presses. Recycles most manufacturing by-products. Is FSC certified.
* Signatory to the Treatise on Responsible Paper Use, which supports the use of recycled fibers and renewable energy, protection of high-value forests, low-impact manufacturing practices and third-party evaluation of industry efforts. Signatories pledge to work toward industry goals of 30-percent average recycled-paper use and 20-percent FSC-certified paper by 2012. For more information, visit GreenPressInitiative.org.
- Companies:
- Bang Printing
- Berryville Graphics
- BookMasters Inc.
- Brady Palmer Printing Co.
- Color House Graphics Inc.
- Courier Corp.
- Delta Printing Solutions
- Dickinson Press
- Edwards Brothers
- Fidlar Doubleday Inc.
- Forest Stewardship Council
- Friesens Corp.
- Fry Communications Inc.
- Green Press Initiative
- Hamilton Printing Co.
- IBT Global
- King Printing
- Lehigh Phoenix
- Lightning Source Inc.
- Malloy Inc.
- McNaughton & Gunn Inc.
- New Leaf Paper
- NPC Inc.
- Odyssey Press Inc.
- Pinnacle Press
- RR Donnelley
- Sheridan Book
- Starnet Media Group
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.
- Thomson-Shore Inc.
- Transcontinental Printing
- Victor Graphics Inc.
- Webcom Limited
- People:
- Kevin Spall
- Tyson Miller