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February 28, 2003
Sustainability Efforts in University Printing
Making Green Strides is nothing new to University Printing! A
congratulatory applause should be given to Kip Manwarren, Al Owen, Tony Torchia,
Jim Gager, Chris Scheve, Sue Bice and Bob Keats – the full-time staff in
Printing Services. For years now they have been committed to promoting
environmentally sound practices by reviewing their procedures, and taking steps
to improve them, on a regular basis.
Director of Printing and Mail
Services, Bob Keats, explains their approach in more detail: “We have
been actively working to be good "eco-neighbors" for many years. Living in a
small community brings us close to the environment. We are well aware that what
we do has direct impact on the Colgate community as well as the residents of the
village, town and county.
When the EPA came to campus last year,
Printing Services was prepared. The auditors went through the shop, finding zero
problems. The dedication of the staff, the help and guidance of Jennifer Martin,
the Environmental Health and Safety Officer, and the tremendous support from
Mark Sprio, the Vice President for Administrative Services, have been
instrumental in our success. We look forward to being able to continue to
provide services the community needs and at the same time being responsible
members of the community.”
The following Green Strides have been
made by University Printing:
Expanded use of Recycled papers
- Using 100% recycled white paper for all copier work unless a customer
specifies a sheet that is not available in recycled form
- Using commodity envelopes with 50% post-consumer content for mailings
- Using Strathmore Script, a 30% post-consumer sheet for
“official” letterhead and matching envelopes for the Admissions,
Communications and other departments
Use of
vegetable-based inks and low-VOC blanket wash
- Use of vegetable-based inks and accounts for most projects
- Use low-VOC blanket wash for press wash-ups
Employing
“best management practices” in the use of ink and solvents
- Accurate estimating of ink quantities before beginning each job
- Scraping as much ink from empty containers as possible prior to
recycling
- Using standard “light to dark” sequence when printing
- Reusing excess ink
- Dispensing solvent from safety containers that deliver a controlled amount
of solvent
Minimizing additions to the waste stream
- Reusing shop towels by contracting a commercial laundry
- Eliminating lithographic film, lithographic chemicals, aluminum plates and
plate developing chemicals
Training
- Training of personnel in the safe handling and disposal of chemicals on a
continual basis
Customer relations
- Review and maintain communications with customers to get the order right the
first time, to minimize waste
- Working with customers to design jobs with the minimum amount of waste
- Talking with customers to find out their expectations to minimize the amount
of inks and supplies we need to carry
- Encouraging customers to choose from our existing inventory of inks and
papers
Facility Management
- Establishing and demonstrating a management commitment to the concept of
recycling and pollution prevention
- Acknowledging personnel interest, achievement and initiatives by members of
the team
- Providing ongoing training and education for team
members
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