Print Business Discussion Panel on "Building a Sustainable Business"

Back in November one of our directors Seymour was asked to be a guest speaker at a Print Business Magazine  Event. This was a panel discussion led by Print Business Magazine Editor Gareth Ward and included several other industry experts. The title of the discussion was "Building a sustainable Business" and it proved very interesting and insightful.

Seymour reflected on the panel discussion, "My approach to questions at the forum were to get across the point that all our team are involved in the process and that we completely understand how we make something sustainable and not just tick all the boxes."

He continued "Many people think that just because they have signed up to the idea, that’s all they need to do, whereas in reality you really have to buy into the process and work on it each week."

"From the work with schools to educate year 9 and 10 kids, there is a real sense of how a business can plan to make print the lowest carbon footprint possible. It is taught that this is achieved through good habits and generates a better feeling about how we buy and sell products."

The following bullet points outline some of what we're doing in this area as a company:

• We are currently developing our strategy for our environmental management systems, with an objective of achieving ISO 14001 by the end of 2014.

• We already work closely with Workplace law, looking at our objectives for the next 12 months and our roadmap to reach them.

• Including looking at our main procurement streams, as well as product life cycles and our relationships with suppliers. It’s important that we all have the same outlook and ethic. It’s especially important for us to understand what we are using, how it can be broken down and recycled to minimise the waste going to landfill.

• We are looking at the influences Ltd Ltd have on the environmental performances of it’s suppliers and customers. We are starting to think about the relationship we have with our suppliers as a more collaborative venture when it comes to products which reduce fuel/material consumption 

• Staff welfare is very important to us, a  full training programme has been developed for all staff. Including courses to attend, in-housetraining and department presentations talking about the products that we use and the issues each area encounters. Staff are encouraged to put forward their ideas as part of our ongoing business standards improvement and teams are invited to suggest new methods of production, reducing waste consumption and helping to develop innovative business procedures. This has proved very successful so far and small but relevant changes are taking place, meaning more to the individual people that it effects.

• Our Directors understand that the staff are the company’s biggest asset and truly help to sustain a healthy thriving business. So there is a lot of investment in bonuses, performances reviews, social events.

• Implementing our sustainable program worked well with simple goals to engage staff and help them to buy in. Each Department sets their objectives, making them more relevant and easier to measure. There is a more deliberate approach with a clear goal to work towards and a worthwhile result at the end of it.

• We also took part in the 'Print IT Twinning Scheme' - We have been in the scheme since 2012 and initially twinned with Newstead Wood girls school in Kent. In our first year we won the award for Best Twinner. After the first successful year we have now twinned with two more schools. Norlington School for Boys in Leyton and Haverstock School in Camden.
  We believe this has not only helped us build bonds with the local community, but contributed to the development of young people.

• In addition to these schemes we have also worked with YMCA, Enfield Truth a Basketball after school club, Sound School an Independent music charity. Plus we've donated images to local schools and hospices, and we're especially proud of our installation at the Great Ormond Street Hospital. 

• We have off-set our carbon footprint via MyClimate and have certification to show that we have assessed our carbon emissions and offset our carbon dioxide emissions as well as planting trees in the UK and around the world. 

• We also seek to find companies using greener processes in manufacturing, preferring if they're located in the UK or at least in Europe.
  
• As a company we're aiming to move away from PVC and looking at Polyester or paper based products, plus water based inks ensuring a more efficient and economical recycling process.
  
• We also collaborate with printer manufacturers for research and development.