Rye Printing Inc.
Social & Environmental Management
The Green Initiative and Sustainability
Rye Printing Inc. is a commercial offset and digital printing and mailing company, dedicated to providing its customers with quality cost effective solutions through attention to a production environment that is socially and environmentally responsible. We realize that the establishments of guidelines will improve productivity and maintain a minimum impact on the environment.
Each operational unit has been has been organized with a plan for identifying environmental aspects of the unit and establishing goals for improvement. These include implementation, training and operational controls, monitoring, reviewing and corrective actions.
There are eight units which comprise the whole.
Administration
Plant
Pre-Press
Offset Print
Digital Print
Bindery
Mailing & Fulfillment
Shipping
Administration
Rye commits all of its resources to the support of the production units’ establishment, implementation, monitoring and reviewing of goals.
Has established training requirements for all current personnel and a policy to train any new personnel.
Commits to personnel in a socially responsible manner.
Prohibits forced, involuntary or child labor.
Complies with all wage and hour laws and regulations.
Does not discriminate in any way and treats associates with respect and dignity.
Communicates with associates in respect to there own freedom, health and safety, and our policy to protect the environment.
Complies with all federal, state and local laws and conducts it self with the highest ethical principles in all dealings with personnel, clients and suppliers.
Communicates the social and environmental policy with all clients and suppliers.
Completed FSC Certification a chain of custody certification for the production and trade of printed materials.
Enrolled with Green Mountain Energy Company for the supply of electricity in August 2011. With the purchase of electricity from Green Mountain, Rye is supporting cleaner electricity by offsetting 10% of its electricity usage with renewable certificates or credits (“RECs”).
Formed a management committee:
• Peter Nix, Senior management representative
• Mark Finnegan, Marketing manager
• Cathy Nix, Human resources manager
• Mark Halpin, Quality control manager
• Seth Porterfield, Facilities manager
• Cathy Nix, Accounting/auditing manager
• Mark Halpin, Environmental, health, and safety representative
Plant
One plant, no operating subsidiaries.
Rye Printing Inc. operates at 2 Nursery Lane in Rye, New York 10580.
The plant is approximately 14,000 square feet of office and production floor space.
Implementation of the consolidation of space from 21,000 square feet to 14,000 square feet was completed in January 2011. Reducing rent, electricity and gas heat usage by an estimated 25%.
The plant is a shared rented facility powered by a mix of gas, electric and oil, usage of which varies with weather changes and job mix.
Monthly baseline numbers are being established for each power component and will be compared and reviewed as the month comes up.
Progress measurement for the initiatives taken will be measured by monthly revenue / kilowatts used = revenue per kilowatt.
September 2010 232,000/14240 = 16.29
September 2011 236,000/10920 = 21.61
32% improvement of revenue per kilowatt used
Goal is to benchmark each month as compared to the year before and improve by at least 10% in the first year. After which we can establish a new benchmark and set a new goal.
Lighting and thermostats have been upgraded for greater efficiency. Lights are shut off in unoccupied rooms. Heaters are set lower and AC units higher. Both are turned off when plant is closed.
Pre-Press
Job planning is utilized to use the stock sheet with the least percentage of waste.
FSC, SFI, PEFC and all stocks with recycled content are recommended.
Computer stations and servers power down when not in use.
Sophisticated imposition software maximizes sheet usage.
Computer to plate with no processing chemistry or water processes. This is an example of implementation of new technology that is useful in eliminating waste by products such as harmful chemicals and polluted water. Our objective is to continue to research new technology.
100% of aluminum plates are recycled, 0% disposed in trash.
We have instituted an initiative to quantify plates necessary for each job and make only those necessary to complete production. For various production reasons, files, trapping, tint values, plate flaws or mishandling more plates then necessary are sometimes made. Our initiative is to count the total plates made to complete a job, benchmark the results and set a goal to reduce the count of remade plates by 20%. Review and set a new standard.
Offset Print
Power down of presses when not in operation.
Soy or vegetable based inks are standard.
Make ready waste kept to a minimum and re-used whenever practical. 100% of make ready waste is recycled, 0% goes in the trash.
We have instituted an initiative to quantify make ready sheets for each job and compare it to the total run length required. Establish a benchmark percentage of waste and reduce make ready waste by an initial goal of 10%. Review and set a new standard.
Aqueous based, water based coating system needs less heat to dry and are easily recycled.
100% of aluminum plates are recycled, 0% disposed in trash.
Waste press chemistry and ink are recycled.
Unused ink is remixed for a house black when acceptable.
Presses use an alcohol substitute in the press water mix.
Digital Print
Power down of presses when not in operation.
Make ready waste is a fraction of offset. 100% of make ready waste is recycled, 0% goes in the trash.
We have instituted an initiative to quantify make ready sheets for each job and compare it to the total run length required. Establish a benchmark percentage of waste and reduce make ready waste by an initial goal of 10%. Review and set a new standard.
Selection of presses that do not require fusing oil.
Bindery
Power down of equipment when not in use.
Paper recycling, 100% of waste paper is recycled, 0% is disposed in trash.
Recycled trash bins are 1 1/3 square yards in volume and have a variable weight. Approximately 6 bins are recycled twice a week = 16 square yards per week.
Progress measurement for the initiatives taken will be measured by monthly revenue / monthly square yard = revenue per square yard.
Second shift bindery operation which reduces peak energy consumption to the power grid. This is the primary bindery shift.
We have instituted an initiative to quantify completed overs for each job and compare it to the total to be delivered. In the new world no one accepts overs and pays for them. Establish a benchmark percentage of press run extras needed for bindery and communicate this back to the print departments in an effort to reduce over run waste by an initial goal of 10%. Review and set a new standard.
Mailing & Fulfillment
Power down of equipment when not in use.
Match current data file to print run ordered. Confirm quantity necessary to print.
Combination truck trip to US Postal Service Distribution Center.
Proper maintenance of truck.
We have instituted an initiative to quantify overs for each job and compare it to the total to be delivered. Establish a benchmark percentage of overs needed and communicate this back to the bindery in an effort to reduce over run waste by an initial goal of 10%. Review and set a new standard.
Shipping
Receiving and disposing of all card board into recycling bins.
Stacking and strapping all wood pallets for return to paper mills.
Maintenance of loading dock to facilitate easy in and out for truckers.
Turn off light when not in use.
Package product in cartons in such a way as to eliminate potential damage by delivery services.
We have instituted an initiative to quantify damaged returns that will need to be reprinted. Establish a benchmark percentage of returns in an effort to reduce redo’s by an initial goal of 10%. Review and set a new standard.
Contact info
Peter Nix
President
Rye Printing Inc.
2 Nursery Lane
Rye, NY 10580
914 967 1400
pnix@ryeprinting.com
www.ryeprinting.com