SGP Certified Facility Spotlight: Forge Graphic Works

Built for Impact. Certified for Accountability.

As a leader in large-format graphics, Forge Graphic Works in Portland, Oregon, faced a stark reality: when you create visual experiences that stop traffic and define a brand, your environmental footprint is formidable. For many, sustainability begins and ends with compliance. For Forge Graphic Works, it is the strategic foundation that drives decisions, from materials to the board room. Their commitment to verified sustainability, backed by SGP certification and anchored in operational discipline, sets them apart.

Sustainability is a P&L Statement

Forge Graphic Works didn’t make the sustainability shift for a marketing tagline. It was a rigorous assessment of the business model. The central question became: How do we deliver maximum visual impact while ensuring every material, ink and process along our supply chain is verifiably responsible and we maximize profitability of our day-to-day operations?

That long-term organizational vision drives performance and defines the new executive mandate. Forge Graphic Works has worked to systematically eliminate non-sustainable materials wherever a viable alternative meets the same price and durability standards. This disciplined framework separates leaders from followers. It’s a strategic decision to manage the cost curve actively while prioritizing environmental integrity, refusing to accept a compromise on performance or profitability. In parallel with this, Forge has leveraged their belief that by focusing on increased in-shop efficiencies and reduced waste in all phases of production they are able to lower their carbon footprint and increase profits.

Forge Graphic Works is leveraging these higher standards not just to mitigate risk but to earn a competitive margin and elevate its influence on broader sectoral policy. This is how certified facilities move from being a compliant supplier to being an architect of tomorrow’s supply chain.

Operational Integrity

Forge Graphic Works ’s operational discipline demands that sustainability be treated as a core function of risk management and business efficiency. The SGP system acts as the framework for high-quality, auditable results that are tied directly to financial metrics.

Elimination of Toxic Inks: Forge Graphic Works removed all solvent and caustic inks, eliminating VOCs and reducing health and safety exposure. This positions the facility among the lowest environmental footprints in its class, reducing both community and workplace liabilities.

Zero-Waste Foundation: Using its sustainability management system (SMS) embedded in the SGP certification criteria, Forge Graphic Works tracks measurable outcomes including recycling more than 60,000 pounds of paper, wood and plastics in a foundational year. Waste diversion is a financial metric instead of a CSR goal.

Curbside Supply Chain: Forge Graphic Works provides clients with substrates and packaging that are curbside recyclable. This extends environmental responsibility to the consumer, simplifying the end-of-life process for retail displays.

Verification aligns strategy with industry governance

SGP certification provides a comprehensive management system that positions facilities like Forge Graphic Works not just for compliance, but for market leadership.

“The discipline of SGP certification is non-negotiable for large-format graphics,” said Todd Ebersole, co-owner and strategy director at Forge. “Our clients need to know their display isn’t a compliance risk but one of their most sustainable communication assets. SGP certification provides a verifiable system that confirms we’re managing risk and driving measurable improvement.”

This commitment extends beyond the facility production floor. Ebersole’s service as treasurer on the SGP Board of Directors is a direct extension of Forge Graphic Works’ values to shape industry standards and support a more sustainable future.

“Forge Graphic Works is a leading SGP certified facility,” said Birdley James, SGP Chair. “Todd brings the same strategic clarity and environmental integrity to our board that Forge brings to every project. They are actively helping define the sustainable future of the print media industry.”

Facilities like Forge Graphic Works demonstrate that verified accountability is a competitive advantage. Aligning discipline with governance isn’t complicated as it builds trust, cuts systemic risk and sets new industry benchmarks.

Forge Graphic Works demonstrate business leadership by moving beyond compliance, centering the discussion with customers on auditable, high-quality outcomes and building the necessary alliances across sectors to drive a more sustainable supply chain and future.