Three Facilities in 12 Months, Smyth's on a Roll with Sustainable Green Printer Partnership Certifications

The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), the leading authority in sustainable printing certifications, announced today that Smyth Companies in Austin, MN has achieved SGP certification. This is the third Smyth facility to earn SGP certification joining the others located in Bedford, VA and Boston, MA.

Smyth Companies is among the printing industry’s sustainability leaders who have achieved SGP certification. SGP is the only sustainable printing certification in the United States and Canada requiring a comprehensive facility audit evaluating the three areas of sustainability – people, planet and profit.

“With our third facility SGP certified, we’re showing our industry and communities that Smyth is a sustainability leader,” said Scott Fisher, President of Smyth. “Our SGP certification is important to our customers as a vital part of their sustainable supply chain, and our communities are proud that we’re committed to safe and sustainable business practices.”

For more than a decade, Smyth has been making a commitment to itself and its customers to protect the health of the earth’s natural environment and conserve its energy resources. SGP’s multi-attribute comprehensive certification was a natural progression and significant next step for Smyth because it fully encompasses operation’s production and office practices along with proven methodology specifically developed for the printing industry. Smyth uses best practices outlined by SGP to enhance its processes for making socially responsible decisions that positively impact the environment, providing its customers with sustainable supply chain options, and safeguarding the health and safety of its employees.

“Smyth is a great example of how a company with multiple locations demonstrates its commitment to sustainability,” commented Marci Kinter, SGP co-founder, Executive Committee and PRINTING United Alliance representative. “This is the third location of Smyth that has met the holistic SGP criteria in a 12-month period.”

From the start of the company’s first certified facility, Smyth’s sustainability team charted an aggressive timeline to achieve SGP certification across the organization. “With a few more facilities to go, we’re able to take the processes that we’ve created in our certified facilities to help us understand how to achieve our next SGP certifications,” said Dora Gaither, E/H/S Human Resources Manager and Sustainability Coordinator. “At Smyth-Austin, we’ve applied those learnings to further support initiatives like transforming 10% of the facility’s grass area into what’s now a certified Monarch Waystation.”

Print facilities interested in eliminating waste, reducing energy consumption, transitioning to sustainable materials, and winning new business from organizations that require sustainable printing practices should visit www.sgppartnership.org/certification to learn more about becoming SGP certified.

About Smyth Companies: Smyth Companies is a leading provider of high-impact label decoration for consumer goods products. From neighborhood businesses to Fortune 500 companies, Smyth provides quality, innovative packaging solutions to the beauty, health, personal care, household, food, automotive, private label, and beverage markets. Using a broad range of print technologies from traditional to digital to expanded gamut printing, Smyth’s products include pressure-sensitive, cut and stack, and in-mold labels; shrink sleeves; flexible packaging including pouches and roll stock; promotional products; and commercial, as well as equipment application and support. Headquartered in St. Paul, MN, Smyth has nine U.S. production facilities and more than 550 associates. www.smythco.com

About SGP: The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) is the only certification organization promoting sustainability in all printing processes throughout the United States and Canada. SGP promotes a sustainable print supply chain through best practices, innovation, information sharing and validation. The SGP program encompasses the three pillars of sustainability – people, planet, and profit. SGP partners include 3M, tesa tape North America, FLEXcon, Cooley/Group, Laird Plastics, Piedmont Plastics, New Leaf Paper, Sun Chemical, REI, ANN Inc., BrandKey Graphics, Snowball Print Marketing, major printing organizations, academic institutions, and other leading companies. www.sgppartnership.org