The Garvey Group Double Certified for Sustainable Print
-- Graphic Arts Online, 8/3/2008 9:03:00 PM
Niles, IL August 4, 2008: The Garvey Group is pleased to announce that it has earned both the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody paper certifications, putting the firm into an elite group of printers who have been recognized with both certifications.“Carrying the FSC and SFI certification logos on your print products tells the world that you support the highest social and environmental standards in the market place,” says Ed Garvey, CEO of The Garvey Group. “Chain of custody certification means we will be able to service the increasing market demand for environmentally-friendly products. We’ve always been environmentally-conscious but being chain of custody certified by both of these groups lets our employees and our customers know how high our level of commitment to sustainable forestry really is.”
The Garvey Group chose Bureau Veritas Certification North America, Inc., a full service registrar with offices world wide, to audit its plants and certify the firm. The auditor will return annually for inspections. “Bureau Veritas visited three of our facilities to verify our process and procedures,” says Jan Kahle, Garvey’s process analyst. “The auditor checked our entire process, ensuring we maintain the chain of custody, have an adequate audit trail and most importantly have trained the entire staff to understand our commitment and the importance of sustainable forestry.”
With its two certifications in hand, Garvey will begin to set goals for the next few years. “We’ll be gathering data and challenging ourselves to go above and beyond,” explains Mark Heimerl, national strategic sales manager for The Garvey Group. “For example, we currently test and gather data on products used in the print process. Inks and coatings are available that are VOC (volatile organic compound) free. Manufacturers are continuing to develop solvents, washes and a variety of press room chemicals that are safe or safer for the environment. We test these new products in our controlled environment. If they produce the results our clients are looking for, we move that product into our process.” Since 2005, this persistent effort has reduced our press room VOC’s by 50%.”
The Garvey Group is a continuous learning organization and will also be investigating other environmental certifications, to determine what improves their value proposition to clients and their responsibility to a green world.
The Forest Stewardship Council, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the global and national leader in the independent certification of forests managed to exemplary standards covering environmental, social and economic issues. FSC promotes responsible forest management by evaluating and accrediting certifiers, by encouraging the development of national and regional forest management standards, and by providing public education and information about independent, third-party certification as a tool for ensuring that the world's forests are protected for future generations. There are currently more than 23 million acres of FSC-certified forestland in the U.S. and more than 225 million acres globally.
With over 152 million acres certified across North America, the SFI sustainable forestry certification program is one of the largest in the world, with a standard based on principles and measures that promote responsible environmental behavior and sound forest management including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and forests of exceptional conservation value.
The Garvey Group is a network of print production, support, and fulfillment divisions located in the Midwest and dedicated to the design, production, and distribution of graphic and electronic communication materials. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Niles, Illinois, The Garvey Group has additional facilities in the Wisconsin cities of Sturtevant, Oak Creek, and Milwaukee. The Garvey Group’s growth has been driven by consistent ownership—three generations of Garveys—along with dedication to professionalism; utilization of the latest technologies; personal service; an eye for detail; and the quality, security, and accuracy of its work. To learn more about The Garvey Group, visit www.thegarveygroup.com
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