WHAT IS A GREAT PRINTER? 
WHAT IS A GREAT PRINTER?
Great Printers are committed to compliance with environmental and worker health and safety laws and to doing periodic self-assessments to identify and correct problems. To become a Great Printer, a printer is required, at a minimum, to adopt the principles stated below.
Great Printing Principles
A Great Printer is one who minimizes impact on human health and the environment, while producing a quality printed product for the customer.
The goals of a Great Printer are to:
- Comply with applicable environmental and worker health and safety laws;
- Go beyond compliance by employing the most environmentally sound practices, consistent with the following management principles:
- Maximizing pollution prevention as the first course of action;
- Reusing or recycling waste that cannot be prevented; and
- Maximizing energy efficiency within the print shop.
- Seek continuous environmental improvement through periodic assessments of operations, materials, and products, and by drawing on information and ideas from employees, print buyers, suppliers, and neighbors.
In addition, all Great Printers have materials available for customers about how to design and produce an environmentally superior printed product that meets their cost and quality needs. For example, anyone who buys printing of any kind--stationery, newsletters, brochures, reports--can make a difference for the environment by following these simple guidelines:
SIX STEPS TO CLEANER, GREENER PRINTING
- Ask your printers what they're doing to reduce the environmental impacts of the chemicals and inks they use.
- Choose uncoated, totally chlorine free paper with high post-consumer recycled content.
- Minimize paper use by specifying lighter-weight paper and using both sides.
- Avoid neon and metallic inks.
- Use water-based, non-chlorinated glues.
- Don't print more than you need.
To find a Great Printer, contact the printing trade association closest to you.
Printing Industry Trade Association Contacts: Illinois: Eva Aloia (312) 580-3041
Michigan: Nick Wagner (810) 354-9200
Minnesota: Scott Schuler (612) 379-3360
Wisconsin: Niall Power (414) 785-9090
Writtten by: The Environmental Defense Fund
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