The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), the leading authority in sustainable printing certifications for print manufacturers, announced today that Shawmut Communications Group of Danvers, MA has achieved SGP certification.
"When my grandfather started Shawmut in 1951 the term "sustainability" was not known, but the concept has always been part of our DNA," says Kristin Spanier, Shawmut's Sustainability Program Manager. "Pursuing SGP-certification was a natural step in our company's evolution. It's a fantastic way to officially recognize the work we've done to minimize our impact and document our ongoing commitment to reduce, reuse and conserve."
Shawmut's SGP-certification has also led to new partnerships and client relationships, including Snowball Print Marketing, the only women-owned, ancient-forest friendly print management company in the world.
"At Snowball we strive to set new operational standards in print and show the world that sustainability and profitability can go hand-in-hand," says Jenny Dela Cruz, COO & Co-Founder, Snowball Print Marketing.
Shawmut's decision to pursue SGP-certification opened the door to working with Snowball and has led to a mutually-beneficial partnership.
"Becoming SGP-certified is not an easy undertaking," adds Dela Cruz. "We are proud of Shawmut Communications Group for embracing sustainable practices and completing the certification."
Shawmut is committed to using SGP certification to work collaboratively with suppliers, print buyers and other supporting organizations to create a more sustainable printing supply chain. By adopting the SGP framework, Shawmut has strengthened its workforce and given back to their local community.
Upon becoming a newly certified facility, Shawmut has identified and targeted their first continuous improvement project. The facility is on a mission to recycle plastics labeled 1-7, allowing Shawmut to reduce their trash volume by 5 percent.
"To be the first SGP Certified printer in the state of Massachusetts is a major milestone," adds Spanier. As amazing as this is, we understand that sustainability is a continuous journey, not a goal to be checked off and onto the next. It's a way of life. That's why SGP represents more than just a logo to place on our website. To us, it's a purposeful partnership that will drive positive change."
www.sgppartnership.org
