Bohemia, NY – May 15, 2012 – Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), a non-profit organization providing sustainability certification in the graphic communications industry, today announces that two SGP Certified Printers have been selected as winners of WhatTheyThink’s Fourth Annual Environmental Innovation Awards. The Environmental Innovation Awards, a partnership between WhatTheyThink and Unisource Worldwide, recognizes companies that are making concrete contributions towards innovation, implementation, and communication of environmental solutions.

Sandy Alexander of Clifton, NJ, won in the category of ‘Environmental Sustainability and Your Plant,’ for designing a new wide format facility to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and for reconfiguring an existing wide-format printing area to maximize energy reduction. Premier Press of Portland, OR, was recognized as the top contender in the category, ‘Beyond Environmental Sustainaiblity,’ for operating a 100% wind-powered facility and for purchasing carbon offsets to generate a “carbonless” footprint.

“The participation of SGP-certified printers in our Environmental Innovation Awards—and their presence among the winners—is a testament to the efficacy of the program. We congratulate these companies for their achievements, and thank them for their leadership and their commitment to sustainable printing,” Richard Romano, managing editor, WhatTheyThink Going Green.

Over the coming weeks, WhatTheyThink will be highlighting the award winners and their contributions to environmental solutions in a series of one-on-one videos. Executives from WhatTheyThink and Unisource will present the awards on May 17, in Atlanta, GA.

Gary Jones, Vice-Chair, SGP Technical Advisory Committee and a founding member of SGP, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony. Jones will highlight the strong ROI that SGP Certification delivers for Certified printers, and the value that a sustainable facility brings to the supply chain. Jones will also show video examples of print buyers such as adidas that preference SGP Certified printers. Video testimonials will also be heard from a number of Certified printers including Pictura, Infinity Images, SunDance Graphics, Portland Color, Stella Color, Flexible Packaging, C-P Flexible Packaging, and Modernistic.

Jones is Assistant Vice President of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Affairs of Printing Industries of America. Jones regularly lectures at industry events and writes a column, “Environmental Alert,” for Printing Industries of America’s magazine, The Magazine.

About SGP

SGP is a non-profit organization providing sustainability certification in the graphic communications industry. The organization promotes reducing the environmental impact and increasing the social responsibility through sustainable green printing practices. To receive SGP certification, print facilities go well beyond compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. They establish sustainability management systems, implement best practices, and commit to continuous improvements in sustainability. Certified facilities are also required to report on progress annually. For more information about the SGP Partnership, the SGP Patron program, or the SGP certification process, visit www.sgppartnership.org.

Contacts:

Heidi Thompson
ACE Public Relations for SGP
sgp@acepublicrelations.com
732.892.5445