Gonink - Design & Print

The word green print conjures up all sorts of visions for people, from recycled paper, to less harmful inks, but this time it’s a bit different.

GreenPrint Technologies has introduced a new piece of software that can help save consumers time, money and the environment. The company estimates that with widespread use, the software could save over 100 million trees and reduce greenhouse gases by over 300 million tons globally.

“Our goal is nothing short of ending wasteful printing worldwide,” said CEO Hayden Hamilton. “We believe that GreenPrint World provides the opportunity to do exactly that. It gives home users everywhere the ability to eliminate waste which helps the environment as well as their wallets.”

GreenPrint software eliminates waste before printing by recognizing wasteful or useless items such as pages with just a URL, banner advertisement or logo and removes those items before a single page is printed.GreenPrint also allows users to remove images from a page with a single click before printing, resulting in significant savings in ink or toner. The software can also save the average user over $90 and 1,400 pages per year.

So what does this cost for the consumer? Well this is just another benefit of the software because for consumers and non-profits it is FREE.

During this time of year, it’s cold here in the Midwest and as I type this, there is at least 5″ of fresh snow on the ground outside. Even though it’s sunny, there is a nasty nip in the air from a stiff breeze that won’t go away for the day or even into tonight.

This time of year is also associated with the common cold of aching, sneezing, coughing and a few other ailments Robitussin mentions in their commercials.

And after mentioning all of that, I’m not even writing about either, but I felt an introduction to the title was needed.

What I’m actually talking about is the recent launch of the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership by the U.S. EPA and ten large supermarkets and suppliers. Very few people realize the energy intensity — and thus climate footprint — of refigeration. I’ve even heard that Wal-Mart’s second biggest expense is energy usage, second only to employee wages.

Greenchill has set their sites on promoting better technologies, practices that protect the ozone and strategies to reduce greenhouse gases. According to the EPA, equipment improvement design and service could reduce refigerant emissions by one million metric tons of carbon per year, which is equal to taking 800,000 automobiles off the road a year.

Even Coke has figured out that if they replace all of their soft drink machines with higher efficient equipment, they could reduce the carbon output equal to 750,000 automobiles. They even had Pepsi, McDonalds, Unilever and other BIG companies — not to mention GreenPeace – form a partnership called Refrigerants Naturally.

So all in all, if industries get on the same page, a better cold could be in our future for the future.

Even as I write this I can’t help but think about my recent post, Not So Green. A post about how some people are getting FSC certified, when really they’re not living up to the standards of the certification.

Be that as it may, I do feel it’s important for people to know who is FSC Certified and New Leaf has just announced that their Primavera Gloss Coated Paper has been certified and an increase to 60% post-consumer recycled content. That makes them that much more of a force in the paper industry and an example for those who choose to continue in the same fashion they have for years and years.

Just over a week ago I wrote about Xerox exceeding a goal and here they are again doing more for the environment.

As part of its long-standing commitment to preserve biodiversity through responsible forest management and to provide customers with “greener” paper choices, Xerox Corporation earned “chain of custody” certification from both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.

I wonder how many more businesses will follow suit to try and keep up with Xerox? I know at least one designer who has been certified as environmentally friendly and more designers should follow that trend.

So what’s your next “green” business move? Reduce paper? Recycle more? I’d like to hear from you.

As a business I’m all about goals. Things like sales goals, gaining new and specific client goals and yes, even taking care of my customers. How unusual is that. Right?

And just recently Xerox exceeded it’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal six years early. With an 18 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2002, Xerox topped its 10 percent reduction target and is now boosting its goal to a 25 percent decrease by 2012. In doing so Xerox eliminated 87,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2006, the equivalent of taking more than 18,000 cars off the road, Xerox’s GHG reduction program saved the company $18 million last year.

So not only does being more “green” mean less pollution, it can actually MAKE you money. And what business isn’t interested in achieving a higher goal of income or saving money?