Pictura Graphics Receives Certification as 1st SUSTAINABLE GREEN PRINTER by the SGP!

Pictura Graphics has been named as a nationally certified “Sustainable Green Printer” by the Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership.

The SGP is the first and only national certification for printers that have implemented environmentally sustainable business practices. Nearly 40 companies offered their facilities to the SGP for evaluation, but only 11 were selected as beta test sites. Of the companies in the beta test group, Pictura Graphics earned the honor of being one of the first companies to achieve certification by the SGP. The announcement was made in a press release issued by the SGP on August 28, 2008.

> view SGP Press Release
> view Pictura's Press Release
> learn more about the SGP

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Beginning in May, Pictura made a dramatic adjustment to recycling efforts that have resulted in significant waste reduction.

Prior to May, Pictura recycled cardboard, cans and bottles. Now with a new recycling program in place, all recycled materials – including plastics, acrylics, PET, styrene cardboard and general office paper – are picked up by a local recycling center.

Pictura has made three shipments to the recycling center that have totaled 9,691 pounds, or nearly 5 tons of material. We are currently averaging about 3,200 pounds of recycling monthly....and making far less trips to the dumpster!

With the introduction of ecoIMAGES™, Pictura Graphics has taken steps toward lessening our environmental footprint in the graphics industry; a green initiative aimed at providing ecologically sensitive media, substrates, and processes designed to promote environmentally responsible graphics to the markets we serve.

> view our eco solutions

Pictura is Chosen as a Beta Test Site for Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership Certification

Pictura Graphics is excited to share the news of our partnership with the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP). Founded in June 2007, the SGP was formed by the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Specialty Graphic Imaging Association and the Flexographic Technical Association. The Partnership was created to establish a source of credible information related to sustainable business practices across all print platforms. With high stakeholder group involvement, the SGP has established the first national green printing verification and certification program.

The project goals of the SGP are to define sustainable green printing and identify steps that will help the printing industry establish manufacturing practices and products that are more environmentally sustainable. The certification process evaluates printers based on the following criteria:

• The Product – input materials used to produce a products such as substrates, inks and coatings
• The Process – the manufacturing process involving press equipment and supporting technology
• The Envelope – the building, energy consumption, employees and supporting activities

> learn more about the SGP

Proud Member of the Printing Industry of Minnesota and their Great Printer Environmental Initiative

Pictura is proud to be a member of the Printing Industry of Minnesota and select member of the PIM Great Printer Environmental Initiative: a program aimed at increasing environmental, health and safety compliance and pollution prevention within the printing industry. A printer that participates in this program is one that has demonstrated that they minimize their company’s impact on human health and the environment. There are three criteria companies must meet before qualifying for the program:
1.) Commit to the PIM Great Printer Environmental Initiative Principles
2.) Complete an Environmental, Health and Safety Compliance Audit
3.) Pursue Beyond Compliance Projects

> read more
> learn more about PIM

Pictura's Environmental Policy

> download Pictura's Environmental Policy

our vision
Pictura Graphics believes that sustainability is an integral business practice and we strive to achieve continuous improvements in all areas of environmental stewardship within the visual communications industry.

our mission
To take the lead in exemplifying environmental responsibility through utilization of innovative product technologies and resources to maximize the results for our clients, while minimizing the impact of our work activities and products on the environment, in providing sustainable results for our clients.

our policy
It is the policy of Pictura Graphics to conduct all activities in an environmentally responsible manner and in ways that protect the public, our employees and the earth we all share. Pictura Graphics will:

• Make environmental concerns an integral part of our planning and decision making process and commit sufficient resources to implement effective environmental programs.
• Establish and maintain a formal management system that addresses aspects from within our product, process and envelope categories.
• Encourage active participation in the environmental management by all employees and share information with employees on our environmental performance.
• Where feasible, utilize materials derived from renewable resources or with low environmental impact, maximizing recycling and recovery efforts, with efficient utilization of renewable energy.
• Encourage the adoption of changes within the supply chain by recommending the use of raw materials that do not threaten or harm future generations.
• Identify and establish a suitable means of communication with customers, consumers and industry groups to educate and inform them about sustainability.
• Continually improve and evaluate our environmental performance through periodic reviews and audits to ensure that our conduct is consistent with these principles.
• Comply with all applicable environmental, health and safety regulations, and commit to the principles of pollution prevention.