Policies already implemented
Platemaking
During 2004 we made the decision to completely move away from an intermediate film production stage of platemaking and made a £60,000 investment in a direct computer-to-plate solution. Although this was primarily to enhance our speed, quality and productivity for our clients, the step was also made with a significant environmental benefit in mind.
Our old imagesetter and processor which produced film used much more electricity and produced around 50 litres of mixed developer and fixer waste per month. There was then a further platemaking stage at a seperate company that would also have used fixer and developer. Our brand new CTP machine uses only a tiny fraction of developer and fixer, much less energy and does not require vehicle delivery of film and plates. It is also a completely waterless system (ie no chemicals are washed with water eliminating the risk of any fixer or developer finding its way into the main drain).
Ink
We are now using vegetable based ink for our four colour process work and virtually all pantone colours. (Metallic mixes still remain oil based). This ink is biodegradeable and much more environmentally friendly than the previous oil based variety.
Paper
Simply having a 'recycled' paper does not necessarily mean environmentally friendly. The real important issue regarding paper is not just where the fibre comes from, but what processes are involved in making the paper. Just because a paper is made from recycled fibres, does not mean it is environmentally friendly. Indeed more bleaching agents may have been used to achieve the same whiteness as a virgin fibre stock. Sometimes it is better to have a mix of recycled and virgin fibre.
Of course, virgin fibre MUST come from a renewable or sustainable source and be made using a minimum amount of chlorine bleaching. Our paper suppliers provide full information on the environmental impact of manufacture of their paper and where papers are requested which do not meet our minimum requirements an alternative will be suggested. Our standard bond, tinted and coated papers we use regularly have all been selected on these criteria.
Waste Disposal
All our offcuts, overs and unused waste paper is collected in a dedicated container and sent for recycling at a local recycling depot.
Our general waste is collected and processed by City Care, Registered AEA-791726 and our chemical waste is collected and processed by Wastecare Licence YRI/446418. All platemaking and printing liquid waste is contained and collected. No processor or solvent waste is disposed of into a main drain.
Electrical
All our appliances are checked for electrical efficiency and safety. In our main machine room, all strip lights have been replaced with energy efficient daylight strip lights.
Heating
All wooden windows and doors in our shop fronts have been replaced with UPVC double glazed units. Further heating improvements are planned. Originally our only option for a dry, constant heat for the correct storage and processing of paper was from electric storage heaters. A number of these have already been replaced and we are considering a complete overhaul of our heating system driven both by our attention to the Environment and ever increasing electricity prices!
Communication
For obvious reasons we are not entire believers in the theory of the paperless office, but in the advent of email huge collective environmental savings can be made with electronic communication. Once, all our proofs were hard copy and posted, but now we try and provide as many proofs as possible via email in PDF format. Aside from the need to use a lazerprinter or inkjet, it also eliminates the physical process of the delivery.
Far more of our business communication methods and office processes are becoming digital. It is also probably worth noting that Gowise has never operated with a "rep on the road". Our business has built sufficiently with repeat orders and customer recommendations and now is expanding using the power of internet advertising. At least that's one less car on the road!
The Environment will always be a factor in any decision of change made at Gowiseprint. We expect our suppliers to do the same and frequently monitor their own environmental policies. It is our belief that by taking things a stage further and making our clients aware of our efforts, this will have a positive 'snowball' effect encouraging others to think about their own processes in light of climate change.
Many small changes will make a difference.