Advek: Lean, green printing machine
1st October 2008
Birmingham-based printing company Advek is making sure it is as environmentally responsible as possible, having won FSC and ISO 14001 certification.
Advek, based in Newtown, has streamlined operations since Graeme Thurman took over at the helm earlier this year, and one of the first decisions he made was to go green.
"The reasons were twofold," Graeme says. "Firstly, it is quite clear now what damage has been done to the planet, and any industry that works with the volume of paper that Advek does has to be aware of its impact and take measures to reduce that impact.
"And secondly, from a business point of view, an increasing number of companies are demanding to see evidence that their suppliers are taking the necessary precautions to minimise their environmental footprint. Not to take measures would be tantamount to corporate suicide," he adds.
Advek is very proud to be a member of a certified FSC group scheme specific for the print sector.
FSC certified forests are managed to ensure long term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the lives of forest-dependent peoples.
Graeme says Advek underwent rigorous process and check-list which was necessary before joining the certified FSC group, both in terms of storage and production.
"We also invested in new thermal imaging equipment to reduce emissions within the workplace, and have been awarded ISO 14001 certification, which recognises that we operate in a more cost efficient and environmentally responsible manner." he says.
The certification acknowledges a company that manages its impacts, including those which it can control and influence while also complying with relevant environmental legislation and its own environmental policy.
"Printing is one of those industries that can never claim to be completely environmentally responsible – as long as an industry uses paper and ink, it will have an impact, but we are confident that we are doing our best to reduce our environmental footprint and will continue to do so," adds Graeme.