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UniqueActive and the Environment
To organizations of all sizes, the environment has become a priority. Customers and other stakeholders are demanding that companies they do business
with show a dedication to the environment.
UniqueActive LLC has long-standing commitment to being environmentally and socially responsible. We recognize that the printing industry has
traditionally been one with an enormous environmental footprint: generating paper waste and chemical emissions and using an enormous amount of power.
We feel an obligation to reduce our environmental footprint and believe that ‘going green’ is not a ‘one time’ event...it’s an ongoing process.
Some of the steps we have taken over the last few years include:
- Becoming one of the first printers in the Chicago area to receive Forest Stewardship Council Chain-of-Custody Certification. In addition,
our ‘house stocks’ for both conventional printing and digital printing are FSC-certified papers.
- Being rated by the EPA as a low emitter of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Our careful handling of all chemicals is aimed at limiting their exposure to the environment.
- We use no petroleum-based inks; we’ve been using only vegetable-based inks for over seven years.
- Recycling all of our aluminum printing plates and paper waste. Last year we recycled over 950,000 lbs of paper and over 15,000 lbs of aluminum.
- We dispose of all fluorescent bulbs and computer equipment in an environmentally-responsible way.
- All of our job tickets and other office printing is done on 100% recycled paper.
- Equipping our printing presses with automatic washing systems for blankets and rollers; this dramatically reduces the solvents used in cleaning.
- To save lumber and reduce landfill space, all pallets are purchased used and are recycled.
- Rather than offering only traditional solvent-based varnishes, we offer water-based aqueous coatings to our customers
- Our printing plates are developed using non-solvent, aqueous-based chemistry.
- We have added Kodak Digital Matchprint™ soft proofing options to give customers the option to proof without the need for paper and chemistry.
- As we replace lights in our plant, we are replacing them with low-energy lights. Currently our bindery department is completely lit by low-energy lights.
UniqueActive Environmental Policy
Compliance
UniqueActive will fully comply with all applicable federal, state and local Environmental, Health & Safety regulations. We will work to insure our employees are
knowledgeable of these regulations and trained to meet them.
Prevention and Reduction
UniqueActive will work to minimize adverse effects on the environment. We will work to reduce the resources we expend and limit the waste we create.
Continual Improvement
At UniqueActive, we realize that a commitment to Environment, Health & Safety is not a ‘one time’ event. Rather it is a process of continually setting goals and working
to meet these goals. As such, we are committed to implementing an Environmental Management System that periodically sets goals and provides the measurements necessary
to track our progress.
Transparency
UniqueActive will work with outside certification programs, including the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership and the Forest Stewardship Council. Additionally, we will
occasionally publish information about our environmental efforts detailing recycling volume, waste reduction and other metrics.
Charitable Support
Marwen: For five years, UniqueActive has supported the Marwen Foundation by providing the printing and an Online Printstore for their holiday-card program. This program, which
allows Marwen to sell over 65,000 holiday cards, is Marwen’s largest fundraising activity.
For 20 years, Marwen has educated and inspired under-served youth in Chicago by offering a wide range of art programs and classes. More information on
Marwen can be found at www.marwen.org.
Austin Polytechnic Academy: UniqueActive is a Partner of Austin Polytech, a Chicago Public Schools charter school located in the former Austin High on
Chicago’s West Side. Austin Poytech is dedicated to training the manufacturing workforce of tomorrow. Students take advanced courses in science and computer training
and complete four years of pre-engineering.
UniqueActive’s commitment includes educating students about our industry through plant tours and in-school visits, offering internships and providing in-kind donations.
To learn more about Austin Polytech, visit www.austinpolytech.com.
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