Heidelberg Organizes First "Environmental Dialog" at the Print Media Academy
04/23/2009
Green printing discussed as a model for the future
More and more print shops are taking on board the principles of sustainability and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), too, is committed to this development. For a number of years, the company has been employing a variety of measures for minimizing the use of resources, and for reducing emissions and waste or even eliminating them altogether - both in its own manufacturing operations and in the subsequent use of the presses it produces. Intensive dialog with users, i.e. print shops, is an important part of this strategy.
In order to encourage print shops with an interest in the environment to share know-how and to make ideas that have already been implemented accessible to others, Heidelberg initiated its first "Environmental Dialog" at the end of March. During this event at the Print Media Academy, a dozen or more representatives of print shops with excellent green credentials - mainly from German-speaking countries - discussed issues relating to environmental protection in the print media industry with representatives of various associations. The event was hosted by Dr. Achim Schorb from the IFEU (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research) in Heidelberg.
More and more print shops are taking on board the principles of sustainability and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), too, is committed to this development. For a number of years, the company has been employing a variety of measures for minimizing the use of resources, and for reducing emissions and waste or even eliminating them altogether - both in its own manufacturing operations and in the subsequent use of the presses it produces. Intensive dialog with users, i.e. print shops, is an important part of this strategy.
In order to encourage print shops with an interest in the environment to share know-how and to make ideas that have already been implemented accessible to others, Heidelberg initiated its first "Environmental Dialog" at the end of March. During this event at the Print Media Academy, a dozen or more representatives of print shops with excellent green credentials - mainly from German-speaking countries - discussed issues relating to environmental protection in the print media industry with representatives of various associations. The event was hosted by Dr. Achim Schorb from the IFEU (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research) in Heidelberg.
To get the ball rolling, two print shops presented their
environmental concepts.
Lokay-Druck from Reinheim near Darmstadt is
looking to become Germany's most environmentally friendly print
shop by 2012.
Stark-Druck, a web and offset printer from
Pforzheim in Baden-Württemberg, is soon hoping to heat both
its own premises and those of a neighboring mail order company with
the waste heat from its machinery.
Green printing in practice
The forum's central message was that green printing is not a utopian concept, but achieving green printing is more a matter of mindset than technology. According to Dr. Schorb, "There's no point having the most environmentally friendly press available from Heidelberg if the printer doesn't intend to use it for environmentally friendly printing." Martina Fuchs-Buschbek from Oktober-Druck in Berlin was convinced that familiar and long-established processes represent more of an obstacle to implementation than the environmental issues themselves. "The young generation finds it easier to make the necessary changes in terms of machinery and chemicals because their training gives them a basic understanding of the relevant concepts. Older and less flexible colleagues will gradually retire," she stated.
Green printing in practice
The forum's central message was that green printing is not a utopian concept, but achieving green printing is more a matter of mindset than technology. According to Dr. Schorb, "There's no point having the most environmentally friendly press available from Heidelberg if the printer doesn't intend to use it for environmentally friendly printing." Martina Fuchs-Buschbek from Oktober-Druck in Berlin was convinced that familiar and long-established processes represent more of an obstacle to implementation than the environmental issues themselves. "The young generation finds it easier to make the necessary changes in terms of machinery and chemicals because their training gives them a basic understanding of the relevant concepts. Older and less flexible colleagues will gradually retire," she stated.
The animated and at times heated discussion identified print
buyers' decision-making structures as a problem. It was pointed out
that, even if the actual customer is interested in green print
products, he or she is often not in a position to place the order
personally. This is usually the task of the purchasing department,
which is normally only interested in one thing - low prices - and
pays little attention to how the product was manufactured. It was
agreed that further work was required to convince buyers to change
their ways.
After these discussions, a "marketplace" event gave print shops the opportunity to present their approaches and solutions in the fields of sustainability and environmental protection. There was great interest in the CO2 calculator from the bvdm (German Association of Print and Media), which numbers Heidelberg among its official cooperation partners.
Heidelberg made environmental protection a corporate objective back in 1992. The company's many different activities in this sector have recently been given their own dedicated pages on the Heidelberg website at www.us.heidelberg.com/eco. The information provided includes the corporate guidelines on environmental policy, comprehensive data on sites' environmental performance, and a list of materials that suppliers are not allowed to use. Numerous Heidelberg publications on sustainability issues can also be downloaded here.
Image 1:
Participants in the first "Environmental Dialog" at the Heidelberg Print Media Academy. The aim of the event is to encourage print shops with an interest in the environment to share know-how and make ideas that have already been implemented accessible to others.
Image 2:
Print shops had the opportunity to present their approaches and solutions in the fields of sustainability and environmental protection at a "marketplace" event during the "Environmental Dialog".
Image 3:
Customers discuss green printing with Stephan Plenz (second from right), Member of the Heidelberg Management Board responsible for technology.
For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 99 50 66
E-mail: hilde.weisser@heidelberg.com
After these discussions, a "marketplace" event gave print shops the opportunity to present their approaches and solutions in the fields of sustainability and environmental protection. There was great interest in the CO2 calculator from the bvdm (German Association of Print and Media), which numbers Heidelberg among its official cooperation partners.
Heidelberg made environmental protection a corporate objective back in 1992. The company's many different activities in this sector have recently been given their own dedicated pages on the Heidelberg website at www.us.heidelberg.com/eco. The information provided includes the corporate guidelines on environmental policy, comprehensive data on sites' environmental performance, and a list of materials that suppliers are not allowed to use. Numerous Heidelberg publications on sustainability issues can also be downloaded here.
Image 1:
Participants in the first "Environmental Dialog" at the Heidelberg Print Media Academy. The aim of the event is to encourage print shops with an interest in the environment to share know-how and make ideas that have already been implemented accessible to others.
Image 2:
Print shops had the opportunity to present their approaches and solutions in the fields of sustainability and environmental protection at a "marketplace" event during the "Environmental Dialog".
Image 3:
Customers discuss green printing with Stephan Plenz (second from right), Member of the Heidelberg Management Board responsible for technology.
For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 99 50 66
E-mail: hilde.weisser@heidelberg.com
