PUBLICATION CENTER

The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership) has officially opened the application process for printing and graphics companies to become registered SGP Printers. Qualifying companies will be listed on a registry that print buyers can use to find companies that can provide proof that they are sustainable businesses.

Formed through a collaboration of printing-related associations, the SGP Partnership publicly recognizes facilities that meet established criteria for sustainable business practices. The SGP Partnership provides benchmarking tools applicable to the printing industry and independent verification that each applicant meets the published criteria. 

Printing businesses who meet the criteria will be recognized as Sustainable Green Printers on the SGP Partnership and will be permitted to display and use the SGP logo.

“We expect the SGP Partnership website will become an important resource for print buyers wishing to place projects with green print-service providers,” commented Marci Kinter, Vice President of Government and Business Information at SGIA. "Providing customers with verifiable data that your company is working to be sustainable will greatly boost your industry standing and credibility. Participation in this registry is the perfect way to combat consumer eco-fatigue and suspicion of `greenwashing.'"

Two categories of registration are now open for applications — 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 being an SGP Printer. Facilities that already meet the criteria for an SGP Printer may bypass the CPV category and apply directly for recognition under that category.

In an interview published on the What They Think portal for the graphic-arts industry, Kinter said the application process isn’t complicated: “The applicant should download the criteria before deciding which path they want to follow.”

She pointed out that “the SGP certification is not just a checklist that must be completed and the applicant is recognized and finished with the process. It is a commitment to continue to become a sustainable printer and to document continuous improvement. Is it for every printer? No. However if your customers are asking you to verify that you have ‘green’ practices in place or to document your Environmental Management System, then, yes, this program is for you.”

Two SGIA member companies—Pictura Graphics in Minneapolis and Pratt Corp. in Indianapolis have already been certified as SGP Printers. SGIA members qualify for reduced fees to participate in the program and have access to online resources and phone assistance. SGIA will conduct the first in a series of webinars for companies interested in becoming SGP Printers on Nov. 19 at 2:00 pm EST.