Environmental Management Plan
The following identifies environmental issues related to the printing industry and Fotoprint's ongoing management plan to counteract its effect on the environment.
Printing ink. (pollutes landfill)
- We use stay-open ink to reduce skinning (dried ink which is rendered unusable).
- We use linseed-oil based and waterless inks for lower ink toxicity and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Waterless inks conserve water and paper.
- Our leftover ink is collected and returned for recycling.
- Our ink containers are crushed and returned to suppliers.
Fountain solution. (Alcohol fumes pollute the air and waste solutions pollute sewage)
- We do not use alcohol or substitutes.
- Our waste solution is collected and recycled.
Premedia photographic work. (Silver in waste water)
- We do not use traditional photographic methods of plate making. We are 100% digital CTP (computer to plate).
Aluminium plates. (Unnecessary aluminium in landfill)
- We do not use traditional aluminium plates, only polyester CTP (computer to plate) which are recycled after use.
Paper. (Destructive forestry management and unnecessary paper in landfill)
- We promote the use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), PEFC (PCW (post consumer waste) and recycled paper.
- We segregate and recycle all waste paper.
Solvents for cleaning. (Vapours polluting the air)
- Our buildings are continuously ventilated with air filters in the ducts.
Towels, shop cloths and cotton pads. (Paper, towels, cotton pads pollute the landfill.
- We do not use laundered rags which pollutes water with ink and solvents.
- We use shop cloth towels and cotton pads which are recycled.
Chemistry supplied in metal/plastic containers. (All containers, metal or plastic recycled)
- All containers, metal or plastic are recycled.
Twin loop binding. (Discarded coils pollute landfill)
- Any wire coil waste is recycled to metal recyclers.
- We do not produce "plastic" spiro binding.
Solvent storage. (Solvent vapours pollute the air and liquid spills pollute the landfill)
- We tightly secure the barrels.
- We store all solvents in a metal containment tray.
Toner based printing equipment. (Plastic cartridges pollute the landfill)
- All our toner cartridges are recycled.
Aerosol cans. (Cans pollute the landfill)
- We use liquid rather than aerosol.
Activator and stabilizer for plates. (Pollutes waste water)
Exhausted fountain solution. (Pollutes waste water)
Food scraps generated by staff lunchroom. (Pollutes landfill)
- All food scraps are collected for composting.
White paper towels. (Pollutes landfill)
- We use recycled kraft paper towels which are collected and sent for composting.
Paper cups for staff. (Pollute landfill)
- We switched to non-disposable.
Plastic wrap, bottles and metal. (Pollutes landfill)
- All materials are saved and recycled.
