MAR 2008 - Strong Environmental Investment from APN
APN Print is leading the environmental drive for newspaper-print operations in New Zealand through its early commitment to the EnviroSmart and Enviro-Mark campaigns.
A Ministry for the Environment and multi-council initiative, EnviroSmart assists companies improve their environmental performance to a maximum of Level Three Gold Certification on the Enviro-Mark ladder.
The latter Enviro-Mark campain -- a Landcare Research-driven programme, which APN is following at sites outside the limited EnviroSmart jurisdiction -- also enables businesses to achieve Platinum and Diamond status in the mission of achieving “a truly clean, green, sustainable New Zealand”.
In addition to the time spent adapting to the new processes involved in both, APN Print New Zealand general operations manager Dan Blackbourn says EnviroSmart requires an investment per site. Nonetheless, he believes the environmental and business pay-offs of achieving Level One Bronze Certification will more than justify that commitment.
“APN Print is committed to protecting the environment and ensuring that we comply with legislation,” he says.
“Accreditation will in the future become compulsory for any manufacturing or processing company that discharges anything into the environment. Already, as part of the tender process for some Government work, we now have to include information as to how we are handling these discharges and waste paper and so forth.
“Furthermore, there are cost-saving efficiencies to the concept -- such as recirculating water discharge. We are very early in the process, so the full potential of these benefits are yet to be realised.
“But overall, accreditation will both benefit the environment and help our cause commercially. So, if possible, we’d like to be ahead of any Government or regional bylaws that will be introduced in the future.”
Mr Blackbourn says embracing the concept was an easy choice for APN Print, given the company’s long-standing commitment to environmental matters.
“We have already achieved controls over the waste generated by our offset printing, as evidenced by the recycling of our waste paper. We don’t use any more ink than necessary and ensure it is disposed of in a way that is not going to be a detriment to the environment.
“People also think that trees are chopped down specifically to make newsprint, whereas in actual fact paper is made from the part of the tree that is left after milling has been completed. This part of the tree would normally have just been left to decompose on the ground.”
PrintNZ general manager Ashley Chisholm says he applauds the lead being taken by APN Print.
“We are seeing growth in the importance of environmental matters to Government, public and therefore business,” he says.
“The printing industry has made considerable improvements in its environmental footprint and a recent study indicated the industry is 95% better for the environment than in 1990.
“Changing technology, vegetable inks, waste recycling etc have all contributed. Many printing businesses have accepted the environmental challenge and are putting in place environmental management systems like APN Print to make sure they stay at the leading edge.
“Systems such as Enviro-Mark are not only good for the environment, they are also good for business. The environmental management that APN Print has committed to is setting them well for their future and will not only benefit the business and their staff, but New Zealand as a whole.”
APN PrintNZ is adopting EnviroSmart at its Ellerslie, Tauranga and Hastings plants and Enviro-Mark in Wanganui, Waipukarau and Christchurch.
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