The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership), Pittsburgh, Pa., recently revealed the much anticipated criteria on how to become a sustainable, green printer at the National Environmental Health and Safety Conference (NEHS) in Indianapolis. Announced at the NEHS Conference general session on March 12, the criteria guides printers on their journey toward sustainability. Printers who meet these requirements and are verified will be listed on the SGP Partnership registry website (www.sgppartnership.org), which can be used as a resource for print buyers.
There are two categories of registration—Candidate Pending Verification (CPV) and SGP Printer. The CPV category gives a facility a 12 month time frame in which to meet all criteria for becoming an SGP Printer. Facilities that already meet the criteria for being an SGP Printer may bypass the CPV category and apply for recognition under that category. Among other requirements, SGP Printers will have to complete an annual progress report and will be subjected to periodic verification by an accredited third party.
It is important for printers to understand sustainability encompasses more than just environmental issues. Corporate social responsibility is another major component. As a result, the criteria are based on all three key elements of sustainability—people, planet and profits.
The criteria will be beta tested during the upcoming months and modifications will be made, as needed, prior to the registry launch this summer. Those interested in viewing the criteria can visit the SGP Partnership website and refer to the Registration Program document on the “Become an SGP Printer” page. SGP has set up a comment section on the website and is encouraging the printing community and other interested parties to provide feedback on the criteria during the beta-testing phase of the project. Comments will be accepted until April 18, 2008.
The SGP Partnership is an independent, third-party registration organization 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 will help the printing industry establish sustainable, or green, manufacturing and business practices.
For more information, visit www.sgppartnership.org or call (800) 910-4283.
- People:
- Pending Verification
- Places:
- Indianapolis
- Pittsburgh, Pa.