GPO Revisited: Sustainable Printing and E-waste

Expanding on his previous speech about sustainable printing at the GPO, Public Printer Robert C. Tapella gave a presentation at the Drupa printing exhibition that covered the organization’s past, present and future. Security challenges, public access and environmental sustainability were among the topics Tapella addressed.

“At drupa 2008, we’re looking at chemistry-free plates—plates that do not require cleaning, baking or gumming—to see if they can meet our production needs, as well as other eco-friendly consumables and coatings. While I would like to reduce our carbon footprint, any decisions surrounding such changes would be made because they were sound business decisions,” he reported.

Tapella also suggested that sustainability potentially may put a different competitive spin on printing. “In many ways, electronic systems are perceived to be more environmentally friendly. But are they, in view of the energy costs and the looming question of what to do with e-waste such as discarded computers, peripherals, and components? I don’t have the answer to such questions, and I’m not sure whether anyone does, but as we look at where our industry is heading, we need to start seeking the answers.”

His entire speech can be downloaded here: www.gpo.gov/news/speeches/pp_drupa2008_prepstmt.pdf