When people talk about signage, it’s common for them to use words like “pop” and “wow factor.” But these days, we’re hearing some new words more than ever. Like “sustainability” and “conservation.”
If you’re doing a public works project or a Fortune 500 company engaged in rolling out a new product line, it’s practically impossible to ignore the importance of green-friendly business practices.
It’s the same way when you’re a digital printer.
As it turns out, sustainability isn’t just smart for the planet but it’s also smart for business. We thought we’d share how we’re incorporating sustainability into our business at ER2 Image Group (Formerly Bloomingdale Signs by Tomorrow) so you can have peace of mind not only about how your printer thinks about being more “green” but some tips that may be relevant for your own business if you’re wondering how you can be more considering sustainability.
Here’s how we approach it:
Make it part of your mission
Plenty of companies can throw out buzzwords on sustainability that sound great on the marketing front. But it’s challenging to be green-friendly unless you truly build it into your company’s business practices and the essence of what your business stands for rather than an “add-on” or “nice-to-have.”
So beyond having the discussion internally, we knew had to actually identify as many areas as possible of our business where we could embrace sustainability without experiencing major bumps in delivering the same great service and product our customers were used to.
“We can all continue to use the most energy-efficient practices in our day-to-day operations. And always offer the most recent green materials and products available from our industry.”
– Alan Schellerer,
Director of Operations, Bloomingdale Signs by Tomorrow
How much do you waste each month?
Did you ever think about how much waste in your company that adds up? Most don’t because they’re more focused on the day-to-day operations, where a scrap here and a scrap there doesn’t seem like much. But after a month, that waste can wind up being more than you thought. We noticed that here at Bloomingdale Signs by Tomorrow with our own scrap PVC, acrylic and vinyl waste.
So we partnered with a company called United Plastics to ensure any and all PVC, acrylic and vinyl waste we accumulate is being recycled each month. And it makes good financial sense too, since United Plastics issues a check to its customers based on the weight of the scraps they receive.
Every printing company is bound to have some degree of waste. The key is what you do with it.
Are there alternative materials?
When you can print on an environmentally-friendly material that doesn’t compromise the quality of the job, it just makes sense to explore it. So we’ve begun utilizing our UV flatbed printer to print onto materials such as BioBoard (a recyclable substrate made from corrugated cardstock) and UltraFlex’s BioFlex (an alternative to vinyl).
Do your partners meet your “green” standards?
As we’re becoming more “green” in terms of what we produce, we expect the companies who supply our printers to think about that as well. So we’re making a conscious effort to ensure we’re investing in superior printing technology that’s Earth-friendly too.
Take our HP latex digital printer, for example. This printer not only creates stunning graphics but it also eliminates harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Our partners have to create that kind of “win-win” situation for us. It can’t be a choice between what’s better for the environment and delivering the same high standard of product we always have.
How is the industry adapting?
There aren’t quick and easy answers to every sustainability challenge. But you don’t have to come up with those answers on your own. What are your competitors or similar businesses in your industry doing to build sustainability into their practices? After all, your challenges are probably similar to what they’re facing as well. In our business, one thing is for certain: Green initiatives aren’t going away and the need to address environmental concerns is front and center. From the disposal of mercury to emissions from inks to energy usage, these are the issues we’re staying on top of to see how we can leave less of a carbon footprint. Take a look around at others in your industry to learn how they’re employing the same practices.
Your turn. What’s your business doing to realize sustainability and greener business practices? We’d love to hear your ideas here.
(Source: Sign Builder Illustrated, Going Green Supplement, January 2012)
