Document printer manufactuer Océ today announced that Reliable Graphics, a California-based reprographics firm, is the winner of its first “Green Reprographer of the Year” award. Reliable was selected from a pool of pre-qualified entrants who submitted applications via Océ’s website, outlining their achievements in the area of green business practices and explaining how these efforts have assisted their customers to meet their own sustainability goals.
An independent panel of judges, including Denise Gustavson, Editor of Wide Format Imaging magazine, Dave Barista, Managing Editor of Building Design & Construction magazine, and Ed Avis, author of The Green Reprographics Handbook and contributing writer on green issues for Repro Report magazine, selected Reliable Graphics as the winner based on its enterprise-wide dedication to sustainability.
Reliable Graphics is certified as a Forest Steward Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative reprographer through its active membership in the U.S. Green Building Council and its prominent utilization of the ARC GreenPlan environmental business initiatives.
Editor Denise Gustavson of Wide Format Imaging and award judge commented, “Reliable Graphics has been very proactive when it comes to its policies regarding sustainability. For this shop, being environmentally responsible is more than simply a good idea or afterthought—they’ve put it into practice. In all aspects of its business, Reliable Graphics keeps the environment in mind—from the products and services it provides to its customers to the energy-saving and environmentally-friendly measures it has taken within its facilities.”
Océ says Reliable Graphics has incorporated sustainability into nearly every aspect of its business operations–including the products used in its shops and sold to customers. The company has switche to recycled paper for use on its large format black & white systems and small format systems–saving 1,509 trees, 354,976 KWH of energy and 621,208 gallons of water from June 2007 to February 2008. The company also encourages its customers to embrace sustainable products by offering recycled cardboard binders, CD sleeves, edge binds, tabs and Eco Board for sale in its shops.
Reliable Graphics has also made strides to re-think traditional reprographics applications and minimize unnecessary printing through the adoption of advanced software solutions. Utilizing digital document management software solutions, including Océ Plan Center and a variety of digital applications developed by Reliable Graphics’ parent, American Reprographics Company, the company enables its customers to order plans and send bid invitations online. Reliable Graphics also promotes digital file archiving and file transfer via an FTP site, Océ Repro Desk software and electronic work orders, with which customers can request order pick-ups and place orders while remaining paperless.
Internally, Reliable Graphics has implemented several facility changes to reduce the company’s impact on the environment–from transitioning to a fleet of hybrid vehicles to selecting cleaning products that are eco-friendly. In February of 2008, Reliable Graphics switched to compact florescent light bulbs throughout its shops and equipped all light switches with occupancy sensors.
Employees of Reliable Graphics are encouraged to support the company’s sustainability goals. Each office location is fitted with a webcam so meetings with employees in different locations can be conducted virtually thus putting fewer cars on the road. When they do travel to the office, employees are encouraged to take part in a ride share program with incentives to benefit those offices that take part most often. Additionally, Reliable Graphics educates its employees and clients on “green” topics of interest on a monthly basis, with timely topics displayed and mounted in the offices’ lobby on Eco Board.
Reliable Graphics has also instituted several innovative “green” programs, including:
- A 20 yard, on-site recycle bin where plastic and every type of paper product from customer scraps to cardboard cores are placed.
- A “Plans to Pads” program has been put into place to create note pads from clients’ old plans and from the strips of paper created when loading new paper rolls in its Océ printers
- For every three “Digital is Green” tote bags purchased, which the company sells in their shops, Reliable Graphics plants a tree in one of the United States’ national forests.
"Green reprographics is a wave of the future, and it's wonderful that Océ is recognizing forward-thinking reprographics shops by starting this award,” said award judge, Ed Avis. “We’re hoping this contest will inspire other reprographics shops to consider sustainability issues. One green repro shop alone might not save the world, but if a hundred reprographics shops go green, the impact could be enormous.”