NEED TO KNOW / BEING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS The company also recently achieved a landmark repulpability and recyclability certification. These results, which are from independent testing with Western Michigan University (WMU) demonstrate that Scodix embellishments can be repulped during the recycling process, allowing products enhanced with Scodix embellishments to carry the recyclable symbol, as long as the substrate is also certified recyclable. For Scodix, another environmental consideration comes from the production of its hardware and Nixon says that to produce presses, there will always be an impact on the environment. However, the company takes care to minimise this by ensuring that its presses are durable and that customers can purchase a printer and use it for long periods before it needs replacing or upgrading. Mark Nixon, EVP global sales and marketing at Scodix, explains that the importance of being a sustainable business also goes beyond helping the environment itself: “It’s impossible to ignore that the environment is an essential part of our society. Without trees, our business simply wouldn’t be possible. Furthermore, implementing sustainable practices within a business can help to build a positive brand image, save costs, engage employees, and secure long-term business resilience. “There are many print and packaging companies working with big brands where sustainability targets are simply a must. They can’t win contracts without sustainability credentials, so we have to support them in that, it’s becoming more and more of an absolute requirement, not a nice to have.” Constantly Innovating Another hardware manufacturer that is striving to promote sustainability within its own operations and the wider industry is Mimaki. As the company’s technology 69 www.printmonthly.co.uk September / October 2023 - Issue 344 advances, it is using more environmentally friendly materials and adopting processes that require less consumption of natural resources. Arjen Evertse, general manager of sales for EMEA at Mimaki, explains how Mimaki integrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into its environmental principles: “We are actively reducing our emissions and waste, transitioning to renewable energy consumption in all facilities, and working towards achieving various sustainability certifications.” An example of this is that last year, 84.7% of Mimaki’s ink sales for sign graphics and industrial printer inks were GREENGUARD GOLD certified. The company has also pledged to reduce its use of plastics, switching to carton cartridges for popular ink products to reduce plastic use significantly. By completely changing the popular SS21 ink to a carton cartridge, Mimaki can reduce annual plastic use by 29.2 tonnes, which equates to a reduction of 38 tonnes in carbon emissions. Within Mimaki’s research and development, the company is constantly innovating to develop technologies addressing sustainability, like its LED-UV technology ranges which tackle energy ► Mark Nixon, EVP global sales and marketing at Scodix ▼ Mimaki demonstrated pigment transfer printing with Coldenhove at ITMA 2023 Scodix technology reduces CO2e (CO2 equivalent) by 85%, fossil fuel usage by close to 85%, and water consumption by 80% per B1 sheet, in comparison to traditional hot stamp foiling Factoid
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