Product Composition
Foster Printing Service works diligently to create products that have a minimal impact on the environment. Our house stocks are made up of 10% post consumer materials. We are dedicated to meeting customer needs for special order stock. By customer request, we are well prepared to order FSC paper and stocks containing a higher level of recycled paper.
In an effort to utilize renewable resources, we are currently utilizing vegetable oil based inks including linseed, canola, and soy bean. We also use water based coatings.
With a commitment to reducing paper waste, Foster regularly uses sheeting and ganging technologies. We gang all of our work in order to create the best possible fit on each press run. Not only does this reduce costs for our customers, but it also gives Foster the opportunity to use the equipment in a more efficient manner. We also utilize a sheeter on a daily basis. This lets us custom fit press sheets to the requirements for each gang. With this, we are able to minimize the amount of paper waste as a job moves to the cutter.
Manufacturing Process
In order to maintain our environmental standards on a daily basis, a variety of techniques and strategies have been put into place that focus on reducing our environmental footprint. Many of our eight page jobs are completely finished in line on our web press. We use one piece of machinery to print, glue, fold, and trim each printed piece. The press men also handle all of the packing for shipping. This system saves time, multi-handling and energy. For print projects that have higher page counts, the web press allows us to fold them into eight page signatures which in turn saves energy in the bindery.
Each of our three presses have inking presets to reduce paper used in the make ready process. We also employ scanning densitometers for this purpose. With this technology, each ink adjustment is extremely accurate. This way, Foster can save not only ink, but also fountain solution and energy.
We have incorporated a wide format printer to use for proofing purposes once jobs have been ganged and before plates are created. This printer makes it possible for Foster to create a backed up 2 sided sheet that can be checked for position and content before a plate has been made. Having this available has reduced the number of plate remakes and press down time letting Foster save energy in both the press room and plating while minimizing wasted materials.
All inks being used by Foster are vegetable based and a classified as low VOC products. Foster uses Amerikal fountain solution with a VOC rating of .40 method 24. In addition, Foster makes use of an ink stay open product and a metering roller cleaning product from Amerikal, both of which contain no VOC’s.
In a large team effort from all of the pressroom personnel, Foster has drastically reduced the amount of waste ink being sent out. In the past, Foster would send back one 55 gallon drum per month. We have reduced that amount to one 55 gallon drum in 14 months.
Foster works diligently to recycle as much waste material as possible. Currently, Foster recycles paper, aluminum plates, all plastic jugs, cardboard, plastic shrink wrap, plastic stretch wrap, bubble wrap, and plastic banding material. We reuse any wood pallets that are in good condition. Any pallets that are unsuitable for reuse are recycled. Boxes that come into Foster containing special order stock are reused in shipping to send out printed jobs.
Facility and Personnel
Foster Printing Service has always been an employee centric environment. We work hard to create a workplace where employees are encouraged to make suggestions and contribute ideas that will create not only a better working environment but also reduce our impact on the environment as a whole. With that in mind, the environmental program at Foster is a team effort with input from every employee.
The implementation of an on-line suggestion box created an efficient forum for employees to submit ideas. From a bike rack to reducing the amount of wasted printer paper in the building, the employees have stepped up to the plate to create a place where environmentalism is applauded. Based on employee interest, Foster has set up a recycling center in the break room. By allowing employees to recycle a large portion of their lunchtime waste, we have drastically reduced the amount of garbage entering the landfill.
In order to ensure that the environment inside the building is as healthy as possible for employees, Foster has made a concentrated effort to improve air quality. Foster installed a humidifying system throughout the entire plant that maintains a healthy level of humidity from the front office through the pressroom. Maintenance and pressroom personnel are all using cleaning chemicals that are low VOC and are considered environmentally friendly.
One of the most important factors in employee participation is awareness. Foster regularly informs employees of environmental efforts through a variety of media. All employees receive a monthly newsletter which goes over any changes or innovations that have happened in the previous month. Employees also receive company wide e-mails with vital information about updates and changes in environmental practices. Employees also attend annual all employee meetings. This not only allows time to discuss updates throughout the company but also provides a forum for reviewing environmental changes throughout the year.
