Accell Graphics has installed new press technology
with total product control. Aside from the impact of the elimination
of older production equipment, this new technology is considered “green.” Besides
much higher production speeds and higher automated quality control,
the “green” designation is based on:
Elimination
of Isopropyl Alcohol in production of printed materials. I.A.
may produce smog.
Result: Elimination of the use of thousands
of litres of Isopropyl Alcohol and its associated effects per
year.
Reduction of start up waste and production waste. Because
of the new technology being utilized for colour and production,
Accell is eliminating waste by a minimum of 50%.
Result: Elimination
of tons of waste paper per year that would otherwise go
to recycling.
Result: Elimination of energy used in creating
raw materials and make-
ready material.
Computer-to-Plate
System: Accell
has installed a new chemistry-free computer-to-plate system.
This system eliminates the use of developer and fixer. Besides
producing a superior plate for quality and production it also
results in zero toxic waste from the plate-making process.
Elimination of fixer and developer waste which requires custom
disposal and could contaminate water if not properly disposed
of.
Result: Elimination of thousands of litres of waste fixer and
developer per year.
Result: Higher quality of production resulting in less overall
production waste and associated energy costs.
Result: All plates are recycled resulting in a 99.9% plate production
recycling.
Accell has and will continue
to recycle the maximum possible of any production material or
energy source possible. If there is a way to recycle the product
we will recycle the product. This mandate not only includes all
paper production waste, all waste shipping cartons and cardboard,
all used and waste press plates, but also internal building heating
and cooling! Our high efficiency air conditioning systems utilize
outside air without coolants when temperatures are mild and our
press room reclaims heat generated from high heat-producing equipment. |
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Accell Graphics contracts “Green Power,” which
utilizes electricity generated exclusively from wind and low-impact
hydro generators which meet or exceed the federal government’s
Environmental Choice Program EcoLogo standard for renewable electricity.
Result: all electricity used within Accell Graphics is produced
using non-polluting forms of electricity such as wind power.
Wherever possible,
Accell specifies FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified paper.
This certification is a guarantee that a product comes from a
forest-friendly source. In addition to specifying and using FSC
certified paper, we also strive to use chlorine-free EcoLogo
(ECP) paper which certifies that a paper has recyclability, is
produced from recycled or post consumer products, has component
composition restrictions, and has low output of manufacturing
waste.
Accell uses
soy-based inks which may be the solution to the environmental
health and safety concerns of the printing industry. Soybean
oil comes from a widely available, renewable source. Almost half
of all soybeans produced in North America need no irrigation,
and as soybeans are growing they temporarily remove damaging
carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. Soy ink
is naturally low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds, chemical
compounds that evaporate and react to sunlight) and its usage
can reduce emissions causing air pollution.
As computers
become outdated and impractical for their primary use Accell
repurposes the computers for use at tasks that are less intensive.
Result: Although the labour cost is generally higher to repurpose
a computer than it is to purchase a computer designed for a particular
task, the policy of repurposing eliminates the sending of highly
toxic computer workstations to landfill sites. |
