As part of GASAA’s commitment to ongoing support for all firms that undergo a GASAA Truly Green or Environmentally Responsible course, GASAA has recently passed the one year review stage for the course’s first participants. As well as seeing the improved environmental practices of all the Truly Green printers, it was obvious that the firms were seeing great benefits in real business savings and greater customer satisfaction.

All participants reported cost benefits of reduction of general waste due to implementing systems and procedures for sorting and recycling materials, and overall a greater staff awareness of environmentally friendly practices as a part of the Environmental Management System (EMS). The majority of the Truly Green printers also noted that they had recovered their investment in the Truly Green course in the first 6 – 12 months following the course, as they gradually moved forward with continued implementation of the EMS.

December 2009 Truly Green graduate Sandra Mascaro from Centrum Printing, Mascot, said that the most difficult part of maintaining the new EMS was

Changing the way we did things and creating new and improved awareness amongst the team. No one likes change so there is always a transition period, but we have overpassed this and are now moving forward to gain our ISO14001 & FSC Certification in the next couple of months”.

Despite the difficulty in raising staff awareness, staff and customers of the Truly Green graduates have overall responded enthusiastically to the course, with Mike Palmer from the Snap Corporate Services Group, O’Connell St, Sydney noting

Our staff are fully supportive of the various initiatives and the feedback from both our staff and our major clients has been very positive”.

Contact GASAA for more information on Environmental Management Systems and how to become a Truly Green printer and start reaping the benefits today.