November 01, 2017
LEGACY OF GREEN: MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE BOOK AT A TIME
Recently I was asked about what we at Friesens are doing to be a good steward of our environment. A variety of things in relation to our company, our community, and our industry were discussed. I was reminded of the importance of partnering with suppliers who understand our vision and values in this area, and that we all play a role in this effort.
Following are some interesting facts and figures relating to understanding our impact on the environment.
Paper Facts
- We use approximately 13,000 tons of paper a year.
- Approximately 90% of that paper is FSC certified.
- Coated paper – 100% of what we use is FSC certified
- Uncoated paper – approximately 80% of the paper we use is FSC certified
- Trade market books – what percentage of books we produce are on recycled paper?
- 100% of the paper from the pressroom, bindery, prepress, and our offices is baled and recycled. That translates into about 120 truckloads of recycled material leaving our plant every year.
- Friesens developed an eco calculator for customers to use so they can see the trees, water, and energy saved when using recycled paper.
Pressroom Facts
- We use vegetable-based inks.
- We use alcohol-free blanket wash.
- We minimize waste by using reusable rags.
- We use reusable skids.
- We receive our ink in reusable barrels.
- We recycled 267,000 lbs. of aluminum plates last year.
Other Facts
- Hydro electric power and wind farms provide energy for our plant.
- We were the first FSC certified printing company in Canada.
- We created a waste management system that helps us successfully track our waste and minimize it for the production of your books.
- We eliminated the use of Styrofoam cups and trays in our lunchrooms.
- We participate in our local community recycling program so at home staff can minimize any garbage going to our landfill.