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PRINTERS
& PRINTED MATTER
GECA
20-2004 Standard (PDF) |
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Printpoint Australia Pty
Ltd
Printpoint
use the waterless printing technique and soya based
inks, they are 99% alcohol free and have an ongoing
environmental program. |
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Product Marketing Name:
Printpoint Use and Application: Waterless
printing
Date of Certification: 8
February 2008
1.
Description of the
Technology.
Printpoint Australia is Queensland's
only dedicated Waterless printer. Our staff and
management take pride in producing high quality work and
are passionate about the sustainability of our
community's environment.
Printpoint differentiates itself from
other printers by using the Waterless Printing Technique
and Soya based inks, we are also 99% Alcohol free and
have a full recycling program.
Printpoint Australia is currently
being audited for ISO accreditation once approved this
will makes us one of the select few who are the greenest
printers in the world today.
2. The Products
All General Printed Matter: Waterless
Printing Technique and Soya based inks, that are also
99% Alcohol free and have a full recycling program.
Core Environmental Criteria Tested:
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Environmental Requirements |
Core Environmental Performance Characteristics |
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Fitness for Purpose
Certified products should be good performers in their intended
application. Certain standards of product performance are
implicit in the label. |
GECS have reviewed policy
documents and inspected the printing facility of Printpoint
Australia and are satisfied that the printed matter produced by
the company is of a high standard and meets the consumer
expectations for printed matter of this type. The company
utilizes suitable proof materials and processes to ensure that
printed matter meets customer's requirements and has been signed
off prior to final production. Printpoint has an establishing
printing industry reputation and its inherent production
machinery delivery a superior printed product above the industry
standard in Australia. |
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Packaging Requirements
Chlorinated or halogenated plastics must not be used in product
packaging. Used packaging shall be able to be recycled by local
recycling systems. |
Printpoint Australia make use of
cardboard packaging for finished jobs and dispatches final
product strapped to pallets. GECS have inspected the packaging
used during production and has confirmed that no plastics are
used. GECS have reviewed recent copies of receipts from Service
Containers for stationery cartons confirming ongoing purchase of
this material for packaging purposes. |
Requirements as to Paper and
Raw Materials
The eco-labeled printed matter must consist of at least 90%
by weight of paper that fulfils the Good Environmental Choice
Australia Ltd. requirements for Publishing Paper GECA 4-2003 or
Recycled Paper Products GECA 11-2002, with the exception of
books, catalogs, binders, folders, pads, booklets and forms
which must consist of at least 80% by weight of paper which
fulfils the standard for Publishing Paper GECA 4-2003. Printed
packaging must consist at least 90% by weight of paper. |
GECS have reviewed policy
documents on "Environmentally Preferable Paper
Purchasing". Printpoint has committed to using paper
sourced in accordance with GECA Quality Assurance Guidelines
which explicitly limit the publishing paper range that can be
used by the printer. Periodic audits will be conducted to ensure
only compliant paper is used in production. |
Production Methods Requirements
In this section the ecolabelling requirements for the various
printing methods are presented. The requirements are divided up
into requirements relating to the following four stages in the
production of printed matter: o Page production (the same
requirements for all printing methods except digital printing) o
Form production o Printing o Finishing (the same requirements
for all printing methods). |
PrintPoint utilizes an offset
waterless printing press to deliver quality printed material to
the Australian market. A wide range of evidence was gathered on
site in order to establish compliance and properly attribute
points to the requirements of the each production criteria. The
nature of Waterless Printing technology means a wide range of
environmental impacts associated with conventional printing are
abated including the nature of the chemicals used in production
and the limited water and chemical emissions from the process.
Notably, Printpoint uses Computer to plate (CtP) technology and
silicon plates. PrintPoint also uses Direct Ink (DI) technology
and vegetable-based inks exclusively to further reduce resource
use, pollution and VOCs emissions. Printpoint does not use
dampening solutions, which contain alcohols or petroleum-based
solvents. |
Paper cutting waste -
requirements for all printing methods
The paper cutting waste can at most be 20% for every single
eco-labelled printed item (in weight or in area). |
Printpoint has implemented an
automated cutting waste assessment solution as part of its
computerized job production process. It is expected that only
exceptional jobs will be exempt under this criteria and suitable
production systems and checks are in place to ensure compliance
to this criteria. Non conforming product will not be able to
display the Good Environmental Choice Label. The process for
identification of non conforming product has been agreed to and
implemented by PrintPoint. |
Chemical Requirements
The requirements as to chemicals apply to production
chemicals used in page production, printing form production,
printing and finishing. The chemical requirements are including
the general requirements of production chemicals and the
specific requirements of auxiliary chemicals and additive
chemicals. |
GECS have received and inspected
the full Chemicals Register, and MSDS for all chemicals used in
the printing process, and are satisfied that this criterion is
met. |
General requirements for
production chemicals
The requirements concern all the chemicals for which the
requirements are set in the criteria document. The requirement
is concerning film developer, fixing agent, plate developer,
printing inks, toners, inks, overprinting varnishes, varnishes,
adhesives and laminations which are used with production of
ecolabelled printed matter. |
GECS have received and inspected
the full Chemicals Register, and MSDS for all chemicals used in
the printing process, and are satisfied that this criterion is
met. |
Requirement of auxiliary
chemicals
The requirements concern the chemicals for which the
requirements are set in the criteria document and which are used
as auxiliary chemicals with production of ecolabelled printed
matter. The requirement is valid for all the washing agents
(washing solutions), damping solution concentrate and damping
solution additives and algaecides which are used in the process
included in the ecolabelling licence. |
According to the chemicals
register, Printpoint Australia previously used the washing
agent: Bottcher Bottcherin 6003 blanket wash. This product
contains up to 99% ethoxylated isononylphenol, which does not
comply with the requirements of this criterion. However, this
product has now been successfully substituted and is no longer
used by Print Point. This substitution has been verified via
documentation review of replacement products and a signed
document by Alan Rhodes. Pre-treatment CP-Y and PA-FCTP
After-treatment contain an ethylene glycol ether solution or
derivative. However, as there is currently no alternative in the
market for waterless printers, the use of these washing agents
are deemed acceptable by GECS and an exemption has been made
with the authority of GECA - Standards. |
Requirements of additive
chemicals
The requirements concern the chemicals for which the
requirements are set in the criteria document and which are used
as additive chemicals within ecolabelled printed matter. |
GECS have reviewed MSDS for all
chemicals and inks used during production and has found them to
be compliant with the requirements of this criterion. |
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Waste
management requirements
o The printing company and its subcontractors for page
production, printing form production, printing and finishing
processes must sort and handle the various types of waste
generated in the production of printed matter at source and
submit it for processing. A waste management plan must be
submitted detailing the sorting and processing of all types of
waste, e.g. hazardous waste, metal, plastic, paper waste.
Various types of paper including printing paper (waste paper)
board/corrugated board must be sorted and submitted these for
processing.
o The licence-holder is required to sort and handle for
processing of electronic waste (at source).
o Aluminium printing plates and waste paper from production
(from all stages of the process) must be submitted for
recycling. |
GECS have reviewed receipts for
disposal of cleaning rags, which is undertaken by Mckay Services
QLD. Printpoint's environmental policy clearly instructs for
appropriate disposal of waste from the facility. |
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The operation and service of
purification equipment Equipment for purification equipment
with process waste with production of ecolabelled printed matter
must be operated and maintained in accordance with the
recommendations of the manufacturer or supplier of the equipment
(in such a way that the requirements are fulfilled throughout
the period of validity of the licence). |
Printpoint maintains an ongoing
maintenance regime for all production equipment as part of
ordinary production. |
 View
Printpoint EPD
3. Environmental and Social Regulatory Obligations:
GECA also found the Printpoint range to
be fully compliant with their obligations under Labour,
Anti-Discrimination, and Safety Regulations. The company
has not been the subject of prosecution in relation to
compliance with labour, anti- discrimination, safety
regulations and environmental regulations.
Additional Information
Good Environmental Choice Australia
recommends these products to green purchasing officers,
specifiers, and every day Australians seeking to
purchase products and services on the basis of
functional and overall environmental and human health
performance.
For more information contact Printpoint directly:
Printpoint Australia Pty Ltd
Address: 31 Stone St, Brisbane, QLD, 4053
Postal Address: PO Box 407, Alderley, QLD, 4051
Ph: +61 07 3356 6977
Fax: +61 07 3352 5433
Web: www.printpoint.com.au
E-mail: sales@printpoint.com.au
You can go to the company's web site here:
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