Earth Friendly In-plant Gets SGP Certification
The print facility at Earth Friendly Products, a manufacturer of environmentally sound cleaning products based in Addison, Ill., recently attained its certification from the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), a non-profit organization providing sustainability certification in the graphic communications industry.
The in-plant provides collateral and custom labeling to five manufacturing plants nationwide. The facility meets SGP's certification requirements for a sustainable printing operation, including establishing a sustainability management system and implementing best practices in sustainability.
"Our company operates in harmony with the planet. We aim to be part of the solution to the many environmental challenges that we all face," comments Dr. Nadereh Afsharmanesh, director of Sustainability at Earth Friendly Products.
"Becoming SGP certified is a strong statement, as it demonstrates that Earth Friendly Products is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to operating a sustainable business," adds Gary Jones, chairman of the SGP Technical Committee.
For its four-color work, Earth Friendly Products uses a Heidelberg Quickmaster 46/4 Direct Imaging waterless offset press. It uses no chemistry in plate development, and no fountain solutions; any printing plates are recycled silicone.
The in-plant also utilizes a Ryobi 512 two-color conventional press that uses a petrochemical-free fountain solution; a 1967 rebuilt 360 A.B. Dick with pillow blocks converted to accept a .008 poly plate; a Kompak dampening system; and petrochemical- and alcohol-free Heidelberg fountain solutions. Conventional plates are poly-based and set on a Heidelberg Quicksetter. During the printing process, petrochemical free BIO-LOCITY by Superior Inks is exclusively used. Low VOC press washes are manufactured by Explorer Pressroom Solutions.