Small changes that can add up to make a big difference
14 Toilets
Green Building Store’s Collis thinks that many businesses could reduce their environmental impact by installing water-efficient toilets and urinals. The company sells an Airflush urinal that employs a low-energy fan instead of water and requires no expensive maintenance. Prices start from around £270 per urinal.
15 Check chemical storage procedures
If chemicals can soak into the ground, go down a drain or trickle into a nearby water source, there is a chance of water pollution. The Green Printer recommends storing all chemicals within a bund, which can range from being a simple tray or a purpose-made containment. An effective bund needs to be able to hold 110% of the volume of the largest container and at least 25% of the total volume of the containers stored in it. Talk to your chemical supplier for more information on effective storage.
16 Print without alcohol
As Clare Taylor explains: “The alcohol used in fount for litho printing is not good to have in the air. Working to reduce this will have environmental benefits and will help to reduce costs.” The emission from alcohol usage combines with nitrogen oxides in the air to form low-level ozone, which is a respiratory irritant and contributes to climate change. Work to reduce alcohol usage by regularly maintaining machines and accurately measure elements such as the conductivity of water, its pH, temperature and fount dosing. For more ideas on reducing alcohol usage visit www.greenprinter.co.uk.
17 Switch plates
Investigate using processless or chemistry-free printing plates to reduce chemical, water and energy use. Chemistry-free plates only require finishing in a small processor, using less chemistry than conventional pressing, and processless plates are developed on press, and so do not require any chemical usage or disposal.
18 Compressed air
One area often overlooked by printers seeking to reduce their environmental impact is their compressed air usage. Manufacturer Meech International sells a range of devices such as compressed air nozzles and amplifiers that are designed to reduce air consumption and fit easily into any compressed air system and reduce compressed air usage by up to 70%. Meech International product manager Iain Cameron explains: “Many companies spend around £6,000 per year on the energy used to compress air and it’s a cost that often people don’t realise can be reduced.” Prices for the products start at around £70.
19 Waste audit
Waste management companies such as J&G Environmental visit businesses free of charge to help analyse their waste streams and reduce the amount of material being sent to landfill. The audit will identify any areas of waste disposal that could be improved, which help businesses to save money and in some cases can provide lucrative income streams.
20 Cycle to Work scheme
This popular tax relief bike scheme enables employees to get a bike tax free, saving up to 50% of the retail price. It is estimated that a company with 100 employees could cut its carbon footprint by 4,502kg per year and save 13.8% of the total value of salary sacrifice, based on the average employee cycling an additional five miles to work and back each day rather than going by car.
