Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), a non-profit organization providing sustainability certification in the graphic communications industry, today announces that the Milwaukee, Wisconsin facility of Visual Impressions is SGP Certified. This marks SGP’s fiftieth Certified facility and is the second textile printer to be Certified.
Visual Impressions is an apparel decorating company specializing in screen printing, digital printing, and embroidery. As a result of the sustainability requirements for Certification, the apparel company reports significant environmental and financial savings. Most notably, over the course of 2012, Visual Impressions reduced its electricity usage by 10.46 percent and natural gas consumption by 31.62 percent. These operating cost reductions lowered the cost-per-impression by over 28 percent for this apparel company.
In addition to the strong ROI, Visual Impressions values SGP Certification as a means to validate the company’s commitment to sustainability. The apparel company also recognizes this Certification as a significant value-add that bolsters the facility’s marketability and distinguishes it from the rest of the industry.
“We are proud of the work that our staff has completed during our sustainability journey with the SGP Certification process,” says Marshall Atkinson, COO, Visual Impressions. “We have a great team, and their talent, skill, and dedication has allowed us to build a solid foundation for a sustainable future.”
“SGP is pleased to welcome Visual Impressions to its growing list of Certified printers,” states Paul Lilienthal, chair, SGP Board of Directors. “Visual Impressions has embraced sustainability as both a social and business imperative, and the company’s Certification experience highlights the benefits businesses can expect through the program.”
Sustainability Goals and Savings
Visual Impressions began its SGP Certification journey with the formation of a Sustainability Committee aimed at reducing the facility’s energy expenditure. From installing motion sensors in common areas to operating natural gas dryers at lower temperatures, Visual Impressions overhauled its operations and, within one year, reduced its energy spending by 17.82 percent despite increases in electricity and propane prices.
SGP Certification helps drive continuous improvement at Visual Impressions, inspiring a holistic approach to the company’s operations. Through the program, Visual Impressions has performed a thorough evaluation of its processes and identified the best practices for reducing its environmental impact while increasing margin. Additionally, SGP Certification builds upon other sustainability efforts taken by the facility, specifically membership in Milwaukee’s Energy Efficiency (ME2) and Economy, Energy, and Environment (ME3) programs. Visual Impressions’ participation in the latter was featured in a short documentary about ME3, which can be viewed online: http://pinterest.com/pin/58828338854235413.
