Queensland outfit Accent Press says it is seeing bottom-line profits and better efficiencies since completing the Sustainable Green Print certification programme on offer from the PIAA. Neil Thurlow, managing director of Accent, says both existing and prospective clients had been asking about its green credentials, which provided the motivation to achieve the Level 2 certification – with many aspects already being implemented by the business. He says, “Some customers are less inclined to print with a company that doesn’t substantiate its environmental awareness claims or have supporting business actions, so we decided to formalise what we were doing and take our business to the next level.

Neil Thurlow, managing director of Accent Press, receives the Sustainable Green Print Certification from Mel Ireland, member services manager Queensland with the PIAA

“We were already recycling paper and plates and reducing chemical waste to an absolute minimum. All that we needed to do was introduce systems so we could quantify the amount of materials for recycling and those directed to landfill.” He says the process was quick and painless, requiring only minor adjustments to its procedures – that are now having a positive impact on its bottom line. He says, “We have gained cost reductions by reducing both our paper and consumables waste which in turn means that we are able to offer more cost effective products to our clients and also increase our margins, which makes us a more efficient and profitable business. “With our SGP certification we are now able to proudly tell us customers that we are doing our bit towards a sustainable planet and we have the Printing Industries SGP certification to back our claim.” Accent is the 48th company to get on board the Level 2 certification. The next award, Level 3, prepares a company for ISO 14001 certification, with KPIs and guidelines customised to the individual business’ conditions.  

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