December 2022

Newsletter

THE CHALLENGES OF RECYCLING

There are more than 19,492 municipalities in the United States, and each of them has its own recycling rules and infrastructure (or lack thereof). There isn’t a nationally consistent approach or solution to the end-use of recyclable plastic. Replacing single-use plastic with recyclable plastic is an excellent start, but does not always result in a lessened environmental impact. Some producers are turning to other materials such as glass to try to combat the “plastic problem”, only to learn that they are actually widening their environmental footprint. Read more

SGP COMMUNITY UPDATE

SGP Facilities

Bay Tech Label

St. Petersburg, FL

Recertified

since 2016

Tweddle

Clinton Township, MI

Recertified

since 2010

Walmart Print Solutions

Bentonville, AR

Recertified

since 2014

SGP Patrons

Electronics for Imaging (EFI)

Gold Level

Renewed

since 2021

Yupo Corporation USA

Silver Level

Renewed

since 2017

Thank you

As my term ends, I want to thank the SGP Community for helping reach our goals. Particularly the SGP Board of Directors, SGP Executive Committee and the Committees. Your support and guidance helped us create a more sustainable future not only for the printing industry but for our planet.

Sincerely

Jonathan Graham

SGP Chair, 2020-2022

Donate to SGP Foundation

SGP Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing education on sustainable practices for the printing industry and sister organization to SGP. Include SGP Foundation in your corporate giving programs. Make tax-deductible donations.

Donate through GuideStar

Digital print has hit the tipping point

Until now, digital print technology has typically been focused on a limited range of applications that involve fast turnaround, smaller quantities and variable content. According to Smithers, digital technology currently accounts for less than four percent of all pages printed worldwide.

But things have changed. Recent technological developments and fundamental shifts caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have brought digital print to a tipping point. Read more

Is EPR too good to be true?

Not a fix-all, but it works, evidence shows

On Oct. 31, the St Albert Today published a news story on ERP. SGP Director, Cal Lakhan argues that it is unrealistic to expect producers to simply absorb these higher recycling costs and not pass them on to customers through price hikes. His research suggests EPR could add $11 to $15 a week to the average grocery bill — a calculation he acknowledges relies on some “huge logical jumps.” Read more

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