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 BAY AREA CERTIFIED GREEN BUSINESS
In 2002, we undertook to become a "Certified Green Business" by the Bay Area Green Business program. This required that all of our operations, from the top down, be scrutinized and deemed eco-friendly by the program. The BAGBP has very stringent guidelines for green certification, all of which involve preventing pollution and conserving resources.
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Some of the general requirements include:
- Monitoring and recording rates of water and energy consumption and waste generation
- Providing incentives and opportunities that encourage employee participation
- Informing customers of our efforts
- Assisting other companies and organizations in their efforts to become "green"
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| There are 4 areas of conservation and prevention that the organization uses to test a business for Green Certification, each with its own requirements: |
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- Water Conservation
- Assess indoor and outdoor water balance
- Implement basic conservation measures
- Implement at least 3 industry-specific conservation measures
- Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Assess solid waste streams
- Adopt measures to reduce, re-use and recycle solid waste
- Cut down paper waste in 5 different ways
- Implement recycle or reuse programs for 5 other types of materials
- Identify and purchase 3 different types of recycled materials
- Energy Conservation
- Commercial energy assessment performed by local utility agency
- Adopt maintenance schedule for all heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
- Introduce 2 alternative technologies and 5 process changes that help conserve energy
- Pollution Prevention
- Assess operations and identify prevention opportunities
- Adjust, change or eliminate 6 operations practices to help reduce pollution
- Adopt 3 changes in materials, products or processes that will help reduce pollution
- Reuse and/or recycle hazardous wastes in at least 3 ways
- Eliminate contamination of storm water and runoff in 4 ways
- Reduce vehicle emissions in at least 3 ways
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In addition, there are specific guidelines we follow that are unique to the printing industry. These requirements include:
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- Completely computerizing prepress operations to remove photochemicals, thus saving water and energy
- Establishing a recycling program for solvents
- Using alcohol-free printing to reduce chemical usage and improve air quality, health and safety
- Printing on treeless and recycled content papers (saves trees, energy, water; promotes new agriculture and reduces landfill waste)
- Promoting green practices to customers
- Using low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) inks (helps reduce air pollution, increases safety)
- Implementing paperless internal communications
- Using energy efficient equipment
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