Melbourne-based sheetfed printer Vega Press took out the Victorian Premier's Sustainability Award at a ceremony in Melbourne last week. In 2008 the printer, which also took out the Small Business category, became the first Australian printer to gain ISO 14064 greenhouse gas certification.
At the awards the print shop was recognised for its purchase of carbon offsets as well as a number of systems that has cut its water consumption by 50 per cent, energy usage by 20 per cent and waste to land fill by 50 per cent.
Rob Nugent, commercial manager at Vega Press told Australian Printer Vega has worked hard to demonstrate its commitment to environmental sustainability not only in the printing industry but also within the small business community.
He says, “It has taken a lot of hard work over many years but we have managed to make some big steps to becoming an environmental printer. We are keen to use this recognition to show other small businesses what they can achieve.”
Nugent continues, “We recognise the need to be sustainable as that is where the community is heading. We will continue to find ways to measure our carbon footprint and reduce it as much as we can. People need to understand that printing is a sustainable business.”
In 2008, Vega signed a low CO2 emissions monitoring contract and certification plan with The Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI), who Vega commissioned to develop the most effective strategy for offsetting its carbon footprint.
The company has since installed Light Eco systems, an energy efficient lighting system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fluorescent lighting costs.
Vega has installed closed circuit water recycling units to all its presses and the printer also recycles its paper, cardboard, plastic, film, wooden pallets, printing blankets, ink canisters, printing plates and office toner cartridges.
Nugent continues, “We want other printers to know that there are actual financial benefits by being an environmental printer. The investments tend to be longer with a payback period of around four to five years but after that you can make some positive impacts to you bottom line.”
