PIA/GATF Participates in the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership Stakeholders Meeting
PITTSBURGH—The Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership held its first stakeholders meeting on Nov. 27, 2007 in Arlington, Va. Representatives from the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF), the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), environmental groups, and key government agencies were in attendance to take the first steps towards a national registry program for green and sustainable printing practices.
The SGP Partnership was formed in June 2007 as a collaboration between PIA/GATF, FTA, and SGIA with the primary goals of defining sustainable green printing and identifying steps that help the printing industry establish sustainable (or green) manufacturing and business practices that are more environmentally sustainable. This meeting was the first step in accomplishing these goals.
“In addition to the three trade associations, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Audubon International, GreenTrack Strategies, and printers representing different print technologies all came together to assist printers with the overwhelming demand being placed upon them by customers, investment firms, and environmental groups to become more sustainable and green,” said Gary Jones, director of environmental health and safety affairs for PIA/GATF. “The dedication by all parties to the accomplishment of such an important task was quite impressive.”
During the meeting, it was agreed by all members of the stakeholders group that the focus of sustainable printing would have to extend beyond environmental concerns and focus on all three important concepts of sustainability—people, profits, and the planet—or the triple bottom line. The meeting also resulted in a schedule of next steps, including a second stakeholders meeting in January 2008 and plans to launch the SGP registry at the National Environmental, Health and Safety Conference in Indianapolis, Ind., March 10-12, 2008.
“PIA/GATF is proud to be a part of the SGP Partnership and understands the importance of creating a nationally recognized registry of printers that meet sustainable green practices and standards,” said Michael Makin, president and CEO of PIA/GATF.
All printers interested in learning more about the SGP Partnership and the establishment of an SGP registry should go to the “contact us” page of www.sgppartnership.org.
