News Updates

Sustainability: Creating an Environmental Future

University of Washington Creative Communications exceeds state requirements with environmentally respectful practices, being among the first in the region to utilize inks and papers that conserve natural resources and minimize environment toxins. Our processes to improve sustainability in printing projects has advanced and include: minimizing water and energy use, reducing waste through efficiency and shifting to utilization of recycled materials whenever possible.

The following information and suggestions will aid in making the most earth-friendly choices when planning and producing print projects.

What is "sustainability"?

Sustainability involves developing and protecting natural resources and meeting current needs without affecting those of generations to come. In April 2005, Governor Gary Locke issued Executive Order 05-01, requiring State Agencies to employ sustainable practices. President Mark A. Emmert has committed the University of Washington to environmental stewardship and sustainability in both research and the management of facilities and resources.

How is Creative Communications practicing sustainability?

The following is a list of some of the sustainable practices Creative Communications currently employs:

• We maintain a Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste Management Pollution Prevention Program under the guidance of EH&S. We follow these procedures in order to comply with regulatory guidelines for the proper disposal of hazardous wastes from our printing, PrePress, and VideoJet operations.
• We use vegetable-based ink rather than petroleum-based ink, effectively eliminating toxic air emissions and hazardous waste.
• Printing services has decreased the amount of alcohol in press solutions by half, reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
• All print production and office wastepaper, copy center bagits, cardboard, and printing plates are recycled, which conserves energy and reduces the production of solid waste.
• Our projects often use paper with the highest available percentage of post-consumer recycled fiber.
• We have begun using "computer-to-plate" technology with some presses, thereby eliminating intermediate film negatives and other printing-plate making materials by producing printing plates directly from digital files. We have installed filters on copy machines, to reduce ozone emissions.
• Silver from fixer used in film processing is recovered using a silver recovery system as required by our local sewer district. Waste film that also contains silver is picked up by an EH&S-approved vendor to finish recovering the silver.
• Proofs are e-mailed as PDF files to customers as frequently as possible, eliminating printed proof transportation.
• We offer electronic requisition forms and Internet applications, which reduce paper forms and any motor vehicle transportation.

The environmentally respectful future at Creative Communications

• Switching UW business papers to 100% recycled
• Entering contracts to make the latest environmentally friendly stocks easily and affordably available
• Educating and offering clients alternatives to traditional printing materials

Be considerate of the environment with your printing project

You can participate by considering an array of earth-conscious options when planning your print projects. Choices about paper, design and job-size are just the start. To learn more about sustainability and how the materials you select may produce a project that is both recycled and recyclable in the future, visit with your Account Manager. You may also consider these options:

• Use recycled paper with high amounts of post-consumer recycled fiber, which requires less energy and reduces water pollution.
• Printing on both sides of the paper and using standard paper sizes as well as modifying margins and font sizes decreases the quantity of pages in a project.
• Make your project a self-mailer or postcard when an envelope isn't necessary. Creative Communications' Mail Prep will print addresses directly on the piece rather than on a label, saving resources and money.

Your Account Manager is available to share the variety of options that ensure the best for both your project and the environment.