Participating companies will have the option of doing the Level 1 entry level certification programme or both Levels 1 and 2. Level 2 introduces additional levels of management and control including the tracking of waste streams and brings in a focus on a company’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.
The Association outlines that the programme also provides key performance indicators for printing businesses covering waste, recycling, energy, water, incident management, storage and handling of printing chemicals, energy and air emissions.
Ian Walz, national manager, learning and development at Printing Industries says it is important printing companies outside Sydney have the opportunity to obtain environmental certification and to take advantage of the business efficiencies that flow from implementing the processes and strategies accompanying SGP.
Walz says, “Level 1 is entry level and the important first stepping stone for companies who want to improve their profitability and their appeal to clients. It is also the pathway to Level 2 which will help them to minimise some of their production costs by being better able to manage waste, recycling, energy and water use and air emissions.”
He continues, “If they want to go beyond those levels once they have successfully completed them, Level 3 is available which provides the groundwork for International Standard ISO14001 certification if desired.”
Also commenting, Joe Kowalewski, national communication and technical services manager at Printing Industries says that government at all levels including local government are examining their service provider requirements and increasingly including environmental responsibility conditions.
He says, “There’s little point in waiting until a customer asks for your environmental credentials and then trying to obtain them. You will lose that work if you can’t produce them. Companies, regardless of where they are, need to be proactive in becoming certified and then marketing this to their existing and potential client bases.”
Kowalewski continues, “They will gain from the energy and material waste savings that their businesses will be implementing, enhance their reputation as a sustainable business and attract new clientele because they will be seen as a progressive and environmentally smart business.”
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