UNT First to Earn In-Plant Sustainable, Green Certification

They're not just "Mean Green" on the field anymore. The award-winning University of North Texas Printing and Distribution Solutions operation has become the first in-plant to obtain In-Plant Sustainable and Green certification. The certification was awarded after the Denton, Texas, facility was inspected and audited by TNT Sustainable Business Solutions.

“UNT Printing and Distribution Solutions not only strives to be a high-quality print and mail services provider to the UNT community, but we also pride ourselves on being a good citizen of the global community,” notes Jimmy Friend, director of Printing and Distribution Solutions. “Over the last several years, we have worked closely with our suppliers, vendors, clients and employees to find sustainable resources and more efficient technology and to develop new processes that support sustainability.”

The IPSG program was conceived and initially developed by a group of university in-plant printers in 2008 and launched for the larger in-plant market in 2010. The program aims to provide a cost-effective certification program for in-plant printing facilities by using professional sustainable standards developed for the needs of the in-plant operation.

Over the past year, UNT Printing and Distribution Solutions has reduced the carbon footprint of its press operations by more than 60 percent. The operation’s sustainability efforts include:

• Upgrading and replacing two presses with a newer, more energy efficient Ryobi 755.
• Replacing six toner-based machines with two machines that are 35 percent more energy efficient.
• Using tap water rather than chemicals to process printing plates.
• Purchasing paper with a high percentage of recycled fiber and forestry stewardship certification.
• Using soy- and vegetable-based inks.
• Using environmentally safe cleaning products for the press.
• Eliminating machines that required large amounts of energy and excessive cleaning solvents.

The In-plant Sustainable & Green (IPSG) program was developed by TNT Sustainable Business Solutions, LLC in 2010. For more information about In-Plant Sustainable and Green certification, contact Tom Tozier.