Overview of Printing Industries Environmental Initiatives Presentation by Hagop Tchamkertenian Manager, Industry & Commercial Policy Printing Industries

Overview of Overview of Printing IndustriesPrinting Industries

Environmental InitiativesEnvironmental Initiatives

Presentation by Hagop TchamkertenianPresentation by Hagop Tchamkertenian

Manager, Industry & Commercial PolicyManager, Industry & Commercial Policy

Printing Industries Association of AustraliaPrinting Industries Association of Australia

to LIA’sto LIA’s

““Sustainable Future”Sustainable Future” How How we can be part of the we can be part of the

solution?solution?

Typical Lithographic Printing Process and Principal Releases to the Environment

Source: “ Environmental Management in Lithographic Printing”

Rochester Institute of Technology

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles Encouraging the industry to adopt Encouraging the industry to adopt

sustainable practices is a key element in sustainable practices is a key element in ensuring the long term prosperity of the ensuring the long term prosperity of the industry. industry.

Printing IndustriesPrinting Industries has been working with its has been working with its membership over a long period of time to membership over a long period of time to build a culture within the industry that is build a culture within the industry that is based on sound environmental management. based on sound environmental management.

This is shown in two early publications ‘From This is shown in two early publications ‘From Paper to Print – an industry’s future’ (policy Paper to Print – an industry’s future’ (policy statement on the environment 1991) and statement on the environment 1991) and ‘The Green Printer’ (1994)‘The Green Printer’ (1994)

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

Printing Industries Printing Industries has engaged in thehas engaged in theenvironmental area for a long period of time. environmental area for a long period of time. The 1991 Policy Statement on the The 1991 Policy Statement on the

EnvironmentEnvironmentfocused on:focused on: Sustainable developmentSustainable development Environmental managementEnvironmental management Resource managementResource management Waste managementWaste management RecyclingRecycling


Industry activities have both positive Industry activities have both positive and negative effects on the and negative effects on the environment. The adverse effects environment. The adverse effects need to be minimised if not need to be minimised if not eliminated.eliminated.

Continuous improvement in Continuous improvement in environmental performanceenvironmental performance

Processes resulting in improvements Processes resulting in improvements in environmental performance viewed in environmental performance viewed as a benefit and not as a costas a benefit and not as a cost


Being a “Green Printer” can help improve Being a “Green Printer” can help improve the bottom line through the bottom line through savings in waste savings in waste disposal costs and raw materials, energy disposal costs and raw materials, energy consumption, insurance (address worker consumption, insurance (address worker safety concerns), and improved company safety concerns), and improved company imageimage

The essential raw material of the industry – The essential raw material of the industry – paper is a renewable/sustainable resource paper is a renewable/sustainable resource

this gives an important incentive for the this gives an important incentive for the other parts of the value chain to also engage other parts of the value chain to also engage in sustainable activities in sustainable activities

Recent InitiativesRecent Initiatives

The Environment Management Manual was The Environment Management Manual was first published in 1996first published in 1996

The Manual has since been updated twice The Manual has since been updated twice and soon work will commence on a fourth and soon work will commence on a fourth edition edition

The Environmental Management Manual has The Environmental Management Manual has been designed for the printing industry as a been designed for the printing industry as a tool for printers to identify and manage tool for printers to identify and manage environmental issues associated with their environmental issues associated with their operations. The manual has been designed operations. The manual has been designed to raise awareness of key environmental to raise awareness of key environmental issues within the printing industry.issues within the printing industry.


The Environmental Management Manual The Environmental Management Manual includes:includes: An environmental assessment protocolAn environmental assessment protocol State/Territory and Commonwealth State/Territory and Commonwealth

environmental legislation impacting on printing environmental legislation impacting on printing industryindustry

A series of guidelines to manage environmental A series of guidelines to manage environmental issues ranging from solvents and chemicals to issues ranging from solvents and chemicals to waste paper and noise waste paper and noise

Worksheets to implement improvementsWorksheets to implement improvements Inputs and outputs of various printing processesInputs and outputs of various printing processes

In 1999 In 1999 Printing Industries Printing Industries released the released the landmark report landmark report Reducing VOC solvent use Reducing VOC solvent use in the Printing Industryin the Printing Industry

The report outlined The report outlined the availability, the availability, suitability and use of products which suitability and use of products which reduce air emissions in the printing reduce air emissions in the printing industry industry

The alternative products comprised of VOC The alternative products comprised of VOC substitutes and the report listed suppliers substitutes and the report listed suppliers of those productsof those products



Lean ManufacturingLean Manufacturing The Victorian Region of The Victorian Region of Printing Printing

Industries Industries has introduced a Lean has introduced a Lean Manufacturing program to members. Manufacturing program to members.

There is a strong environmental focus There is a strong environmental focus as the program aims to reduce the as the program aims to reduce the volume of inputs used in the volume of inputs used in the production process, whether they are production process, whether they are water, energy or other material inputs. water, energy or other material inputs. The program is currently being The program is currently being evaluated with a view to extending it evaluated with a view to extending it to other states. to other states.

The West Australian Region of The West Australian Region of Printing Printing Industries Industries recently prepared an Action recently prepared an Action Plan committing the Association to Plan committing the Association to promotion of cleaner production and promotion of cleaner production and eco-efficiency to the members, and to eco-efficiency to the members, and to the industry generally. the industry generally.

Arising out of the Action Plan was the Arising out of the Action Plan was the development and involvement in the development and involvement in the Green Stamp program. Green Stamp program.


Printing Industries Printing Industries is working with is working with the New South Wales department the New South Wales department of Environment and Conservation of Environment and Conservation to explore the feasibility of to explore the feasibility of establishing a Cleaner Production establishing a Cleaner Production Cluster in the printing industry.Cluster in the printing industry.


Extended Producer Responsibility Office PapersExtended Producer Responsibility Office Papers The NSW Government placed the industry The NSW Government placed the industry

on notice in 2004 that is was concerned on notice in 2004 that is was concerned with the amounts of paper ending up in with the amounts of paper ending up in landfill and declared Office Paper “a waste landfill and declared Office Paper “a waste of concern”.of concern”.

Printing Industries Printing Industries conducted a major conducted a major research project during 2004-2005 into research project during 2004-2005 into extended producer responsibility for Office extended producer responsibility for Office Papers. Papers.

A range of solutions were examined from A range of solutions were examined from which a preferred solution model emerged which a preferred solution model emerged


A working group has been formed and it A working group has been formed and it has been agreed to establish a Producer has been agreed to establish a Producer Responsibility Organisation for the next Responsibility Organisation for the next three years funded by voluntary industry three years funded by voluntary industry contributions.contributions.

Failure to come up with a comprehensive Failure to come up with a comprehensive industry solution by October 2006 will industry solution by October 2006 will force the NSW Government to introduce force the NSW Government to introduce legislationlegislation

NSW Government has indicated that it will NSW Government has indicated that it will work with the other states to introduce work with the other states to introduce similar legislation covering Office Paperssimilar legislation covering Office Papers


Extended Producer Responsibility Office PapersExtended Producer Responsibility Office Papers


Printing Industries Environmental PrinciplesPrinting Industries Environmental Principles Printing Industries Printing Industries formed a working party in early 2005 formed a working party in early 2005

to develop an appropriate environmental labelling to develop an appropriate environmental labelling scheme for the industry. scheme for the industry.

The scheme details have now been finalised and will The scheme details have now been finalised and will involve a multi level system that builds on the Western involve a multi level system that builds on the Western Australian Green Stamp system and leads ultimately to Australian Green Stamp system and leads ultimately to certification under the ISO 14001 series as well as beyond certification under the ISO 14001 series as well as beyond ISO 14001 compliance eg triple bottom line accounting. ISO 14001 compliance eg triple bottom line accounting.

The Environment Management Manual will be re-written The Environment Management Manual will be re-written and a new publication “Printing Industries Environment and a new publication “Printing Industries Environment Principles” will be producedPrinciples” will be produced

There will also be audit and certification streamsThere will also be audit and certification streams

Other InitiativesOther Initiatives

Printing Industries Printing Industries is also a signatory is also a signatory to the “Greenhouse Challenge” and to the “Greenhouse Challenge” and the “National Packaging Covenant”the “National Packaging Covenant”

As a signatory it promotes both As a signatory it promotes both environmental initiatives to members environmental initiatives to members and the industry, encourages and the industry, encourages continuous improvements, helps continuous improvements, helps members prepare and implement members prepare and implement action plans and acknowledges and action plans and acknowledges and recognises member company recognises member company achievements through environmental achievements through environmental awards awards


Printing Industries Printing Industries commissioned a study commissioned a study in 1998 to describe the operational in 1998 to describe the operational characteristics, energy consumption and characteristics, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions within the greenhouse gas emissions within the industry together with recommendations industry together with recommendations and action plans for improved energy and action plans for improved energy management. management.

The study demonstrated that effective and The study demonstrated that effective and efficient energy management can assist efficient energy management can assist printers to reduce their energy costs and printers to reduce their energy costs and the flow on benefit of such initiatives is the flow on benefit of such initiatives is reduced greenhouse gas emissions.reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse Challenge Scoping StudyGreenhouse Challenge Scoping Study


Project took place in 2002 and the objectives were Project took place in 2002 and the objectives were to:to:

Identify what are effective waste minimisation Identify what are effective waste minimisation printing practices;printing practices;

Discover waste and environmental management Discover waste and environmental management practices currently in use;practices currently in use;

Disseminate the findings Disseminate the findings

Key findings included:Key findings included: 56% of respondents to the survey component of 56% of respondents to the survey component of

the project reported they did not measure their the project reported they did not measure their wastes;wastes;

Variation across the industry in waste production Variation across the industry in waste production and recycling is large;and recycling is large;

Waste Reduction in the Printing IndustryWaste Reduction in the Printing Industry


The reported average spoilage rate of 7.5% The reported average spoilage rate of 7.5% is considered as good as, if not better than is considered as good as, if not better than the rates published by Printing Industries the rates published by Printing Industries of America – 10%;of America – 10%;

Average recycling rate (amount recycled to Average recycling rate (amount recycled to total waste including recycled and total waste including recycled and disposed) all respondents was 59 %.disposed) all respondents was 59 %.

Waste Reduction in the Printing IndustryWaste Reduction in the Printing Industry

ConclusionConclusion As an industry our activities do impact on the As an industry our activities do impact on the

environmentenvironment We need to be socially responsible and help We need to be socially responsible and help

minimise or eliminate adverse impactsminimise or eliminate adverse impacts Being environmentally responsible can help deliver Being environmentally responsible can help deliver

win-win outcomes for industry participantswin-win outcomes for industry participants The environmental factor can give companies a The environmental factor can give companies a

competitive edgecompetitive edge Printing Industries Printing Industries promotes sound environmental promotes sound environmental

management practices via industry specific management practices via industry specific publications, programs and initiativespublications, programs and initiatives

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Overview of Printing Industries Environmental Initiatives Presentation by Hagop Tchamkertenian Manager, Industry & Commercial Policy Printing Industries