Towards a sustainable future

6 May 2008



Peter Burgess, md, Boxes Prestige and Boxes GH, looks at the steps taken by his company to reduce its environmental impact


For print companies wanting to reduce their environmental impact, there are three main factors that can lead to a greener output. Adhering to green credentials, improving efficiency and moving away from carbon intensive products will ensure companies become more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint.

At Boxes GH and Boxes Prestige, we have taken a number of steps to move the business towards a more sustainable future.

Both companies have a number of environmental accreditations, including FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council), PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification) and the ISO 14001, a standard which specifies the requirements for an organisation’s environmental management. The FSC promotes responsible stewardship of the world’s forests and sets international standards by which forests should be managed. Their internationally recognised trademark means consumers can easily identify products which have been approved by the FSC, allowing them to choose a greener product. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.

In order to ensure that we fully optimised our accreditations, we implemented extensive internal awareness drives to ensure all employees were fully aware of the environmental significance of these programmes.

We are committed to sourcing sustainable materials and, when working with cartonboard, this often means choosing a sustainable rather than a recycled board, in order to ensure that we have specific knowledge of where the board has originated. Where board is recycled, it often isn’t clear where the material has come from, making it difficult to guarantee it is free of odours and potential contaminants.

Working closely with suppliers can also help print companies investigate greener options. When working with Thorntons, who have committed to reducing the percentage packaging of their products, we drew on Korsnas’s expertise to source a stronger board. This allowed us to reduce the calliper without compromising on strength, whilst maintaining the luxury feel of the cartons. A supplier’s expert knowledge can often provide a solution that is environmentally sustainable without necessitating cost increases for the customer.

Improving efficiency in all areas of the business will not only improve the environmental impact of a print company, but will also translate into increased profitability.

All Clondalkin Group companies work to principles of lean manufacturing, which promotes a more efficient way of working, as well as reducing waste and therefore reducing our environmental impact.

Small changes, usually on the manufacturing floor, will reduce waste and increase profitability with very little investment. At Clondalkin, we encourage all employees to have a say in how we can improve our efficiency. This means not only does our operation run more productively, but we also empower the workforce to make real changes themselves.

Moving away from carbon intensive products, with a number of steps both big and small, is one way all companies can reduce their environmental impact. At Boxes GH and Boxes Prestige, we have looked at all areas of the business to determine how they can be made greener. From taking small steps, such as reducing the number of company cars and ensuring all those that are required run on diesel, to big steps such as reducing the amount of alcohol used on the print presses, small changes can make a big difference in creating a more sustainable future. We have engaged our energy suppliers to help us reduce electricity and gas at our sites in the UK, and this has been so successful it has been rolled out to our European sister companies.

These are measures all companies can implement to help become greener and to help protect the environment.

We have taken a number of steps to ensure we reduce our environmental impact, and working with customers such as Thorntons and Marks and Spencer has ensured we stay at the top of our game in providing customers with sustainable options for their packaging. Responsibility often lies with customers who respond to demand from consumers looking for more environmentally friendly packaging. Educating consumers on the impact of packaging will lead to a demand, which brings all packaging companies into line, and ensure all possible measures are taken to reduce the carbon footprint of our industry. n


Peter Burgess, md, Boxes Prestige and Boxes GH Peter Burgess Related Articles
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