awards  printing - sheetfed  environment 
Melbourne based printing company Print Bound was a winner at the recent 2005 Premier’s Business Sustainability Awards. Victorian Premier Steve Bracks presented the company’s senior management team with the award for small business, which recognises businesses with 100 employees or less for leading the way in environmental sustainability.

Print Bound had adopted the latest sustainable technologies and measures, as well as educating its customers and staff on a broad range of environmental considerations.

Through a dedicated programme to reduce its environmental impact, Print Bound cut its energy consumption by 40 per cent; replaced 80 per cent of ink tins with recyclable cartons; and cut the use of air pollutants (volatile organic compounds) from 12 per cent to five per cent.

“What makes Print Bound really stand out is that it has gone the next level by educating its customers and staff members about environmental considerations, to the point where staff have even changed their behaviour at home,” says Bracks.
“Environmental sustainability is about doing things smarter to ensure the way we grow today doesn’t threaten future prosperity.”

The awards, which are awarded in three categories - small business, large business and public sector – attract entries from a wide range of sectors, including finance, education, manufacturing, property, retailing, energy and government. Print Bound was the only print company to win this year.

Founded in 1991, Print Bound is a general commercial printing company based in Blackburn Victoria and employing 33 people.

The environmental side of the business was sparked by company director Mark Tomasini, who built a house that was awarded the Master Builders Association House of the year for energy efficiency. With this knowledge and enthusiasm managing director Mauro Mattarucco and Tomasini embarked on a significant project to improve the environmental sustainability of their printing business.

Their aim was to create a culture of environmental awareness amongst employees, clients and suppliers; to improve the reputation in the print industry for poor environmental practices by educating and supporting all consumers of paper and print; and to aim to be a leader in the print industry by ensuring all staff adopted 100 per cent commitment to this project.

In consultation with Ron Alderson from the EPA and learning from other environmentally conscious businesses, Print Bound developed its own strategies which would set the framework for the business to further develop its environmentally friendly systems and products.

The business acquired the most modern technology available to reduce carbon emissions, eliminate the release of toxins and pollutants, significantly reduce water and energy usage and use sustainable energy sources.

They then began conducting site tours with Eco Recycle, City Councils, Universities and major Corporations within its area and key environmental groups, and created a Clean Green Print Logo that can be placed on any printed material that signifies to clients and suppliers that they are committed to a healthier more sustainable environment.

Some of the projects were:

•Eco Clean system to collect the chemical wastes from the press, separate the sludge for removal and purify the remaining liquid into a solvent ready liquid and return it back to the printing press for use. Over a year, this innovative system reduces the use of chemicals by approximately 90 per cent.

•Energy lighting audit, to introduce energy efficient lighting, motion and light sensitivity sensors and reflectors.

•Replace ink tins that go to landfill with recyclable cartons. This is a revolutionary product from DIC Colortron and was recently awarded a gold medal for sustainable packaging. Print Bound is the only printer in Australia who has 100 per cent supported this product.

•Take complete ownership for its printed waste by developing a complete a waste management system to ensure all products are recycled or reused. Print Bound has consulted with its paper suppliers, chemical recovery company, metal recycler and paper and plastic recycler to ensure the product is recycled and reused.

The environmental impact of such projects includes reduction of global warming, reduction in green house emissions, reduction of landfill and reduction of energy consumption.

The cost of each project ranges from $2000 right up to an investment in a new state of the art Heidelberg 102 CD 6 colour with new water cooled unit which eliminates the heat generated from the machine, therefore reduces the use of air conditioners. All the systems are supported by certification to the EMS ISO 14001 system.

Print Bound is currently investigating several new environmental initiatives, including sourcing and trialling a new biodegradable laminate, looking into an Easy Cleaner system that segregates the waste of IPA and other debris and water, and considering a new product that reduces 240 watt fluorescent tubes output of energy by 30 per cent without affecting the light intensity.

The company also hopes to become FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified in February 2006.