China's 2012 Green Printing Report: Progress in Energy Savings, Emissions Reduction, CTP Adoption and Greener Textbooks

Beijing hosted the 2012 Green Printing Promotion Conference on November 5, 2012. Organized jointly by the Printing and Distribution Management Department of the General Administration of Press and Publication and the Science and Technology Standards Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the event also marked the start of that year's Green Printing Publicity Week. During the conference, Wang Yanbin, Director of the Printing and Distribution Management Department of the General Administration of Press and Publication, officially presented the 2012 Report on Achievements in Implementing Green Printing to the industry.

I. Green printing has improved energy saving and consumption reduction among printing companies

Energy-saving equipment and consumption-reduction technologies—including eco-friendly drying ovens, secondary combustion systems, energy-efficient lighting and central air supply systems—have been widely adopted across the printing sector. Data from sampled companies show that each 100 million yuan of output value translates into roughly 355,000 kWh of electricity saved, 21.7 tonnes less paper used and about 1 tonne of ink saved. Based on these figures, China's printing industry as a whole is estimated to cut the combined cost of energy use and printing-material loss by about 500 million yuan per year through measures that save electricity, water, ink and paper.

II. Green printing has lowered printing companies' discharge of the “three wastes”

Before green printing certification was introduced, most printing companies nationwide relied mainly on uncertified paper, ink and other materials, along with conventional printing processes. As eco-friendly printing materials, digital printing, digital workflows, computer-to-plate (CTP) technology, central ink supply systems and recycling continue to improve, discharges of the “three wastes” have been effectively reduced. Today, more than 60% of the paper used by green-certified printers carries Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification; eco-friendly ink accounts for 80% of use; and eco-friendly auxiliary materials such as blanket wash and fountain solution represent about 80%. Most of these companies also use post-press auxiliaries including pre-coated film, eco-friendly varnish and eco-friendly adhesives. Even among companies without green certification, eco-friendly ink use is close to 20%. It is estimated that, following the rollout of green printing in China's printing industry, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions have fallen by about 1.5% of total annual emissions.

III. Green printing has accelerated the pace of industrial restructuring

At present, 60% of printing companies above designated size nationwide have adopted computer-to-plate (CTP) technology and digital workflows, a clear lift for the industry's digitalization. CTP installations and inventories have grown by more than 100% for two straight years. By 2011, China's CTP inventory had reached 5,500 units (sets). Compared with conventional plate-making, CTP has helped printing companies reduce comprehensive environmental costs by about 10%, raise plate-making efficiency fivefold and achieve more consistent plate quality. Primary and secondary school textbooks have also begun to use flexographic printing; by this year's autumn semester, 20 titles and 1 million copies had been printed. By one estimate, green printing certified companies currently represent only 0.15% of the total, yet they generate about 4.5% of the industry's output value.

IV. Green printing has delivered strong livelihood benefits

Statistics from 23 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) show that more than 1,000 titles and 200 million copies of primary and secondary school textbooks for the autumn semester of 2012 were green printed. This means, by estimate, that more than half of the country's primary and secondary school students—over 96 million—have at least one green-printed textbook each. From July to October 2012, the Publishing Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center of the General Administration of Press and Publication conducted environmental quality sampling checks on 95 types of green-printed primary and secondary school textbooks across 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities). The results found that volatile organic compounds and migratable elements all met the green printing standard requirements, with a pass rate of 100%. Today, by upgrading process equipment, reducing ambient noise and cutting dust emissions, printing companies have also improved the working environment for nearly one million printing employees.

Implementing green printing is an important strategy for China's printing industry during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. Green printing in China remains at an early stage, and its deeper development will depend on joint efforts from the entire industry and across the full upstream and downstream supply chain. We firmly believe that green printing will play an even greater role in transforming the mode of industrial development, advancing sustainable growth, promoting the great development and prosperity of socialist culture, and building an eco-efficient and environment-friendly society.

— This article is reposted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362014.html