Business News
Quad/Graphics Honored With 2008 Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment Award
Monday 19. May 2008 - Printer recognized for numerous voluntary pollution prevention measures
For its ongoing commitment to protecting the environment and its proactive, socially conscious approach to business decisions, Quad/Graphics has been awarded a 2008 Business Friend of the Environment Award from the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group(R) (WEWG), an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
“Quad/Graphics is a company dedicated to environmental stewardship, protecting the earth and keeping Wisconsin clean for generations to come,” said Scott Manley, Director of the WEWG.
“We’re proud to be recognized for our aggressive, proactive efforts to protect the environment,” said Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics President & CEO. “Quad/Graphics’ success proves that you can balance both business needs and environmental responsibility, and we hope our leadership in environmental issues will inspire other companies to action.”
The award, which gives special recognition to Quad/Graphics’ pollution prevention efforts, was presented May 14 at the 19th Annual Environmental Policy and Awards Conference in Waukesha, Wis. Quad/Graphics is one of only nine winners chosen from a very competitive field of companies based in or with operations in Wisconsin. Winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges representing industry, an environmental group, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and academia.
Among the company’s industry-leading measures to reduce air emissions are:
— Using regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) in its web offset
pressrooms to capture volatile organic compounds from ink for reuse as
a fuel source on its presses. The system virtually eliminates the use
of natural gas on press while achieving 99 percent cleanup efficiency.
— Reducing air emissions relative to output by 71 percent in its web
offset pressrooms between 1989 and 2007 despite a 173 percent increase
in output.
— Employing solvent recovery systems in its gravure pressrooms to exceed
federal requirements for controlling hazardous air pollutant emissions.
In 2006, the solvent recovery systems in Quad/Graphics’ gravure
pressrooms averaged more than 99 percent efficiency, which is
considerably above the Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT)
standard of 92 percent required by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). The printer’s gravure pressrooms have reduced air emissions
relative to output by 83 percent between 1989 and 2007 despite a 1,308
percent increase in output.
— Joining the EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership. Through the use of
SmartWay techniques, the printer reduced an estimated 12,500 tons of
carbon dioxide, 59 tons of nitrous oxide and 1 ton of particulate
matter from its distribution fleet activities in 2007.