Great Green Printer

What makes a printer a Great / Green Printer?

Participation in the Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) Great Printer Environmental Initiative is a voluntary program.  Great Printers demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and to minimize their impact on human health and the environment while producing quality printed products.

Great Printers go beyond what is required by government agencies in environmental, health and safety (EHS) compliance. The Great Printer Certification process sets printers on a path of continuous improvement.

Great Printers are green printers.

The PIM Great Printer Environmental Initiative began 29 years ago. It evolved from the Great Printers Project; a collaborative project by the Council of Great Lake Governors, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Printing Industries of America, Inc.

To qualify, a printer must meet the following criteria:

    1. Commit to the PIM Great Printer Environmental Initiative Principles. This commits the company to:
      • Comply with all environmental, health and safety requirements
      • Go beyond compliance
        • Minimize waste
        • Recycle waste
        • Maximize energy efficiency
        • Create a healthier or safer work environment
      • Pursue continuous EHS improvements
    2. Complete an Environmental, Health & Safety Compliance Audit annually or once every 36 months if they have a written and effective environmental management system (EMS) in place.
    3. Pursue Beyond Compliance Projects: The company must have completed at least one beyond compliance project within the last five years and must currently be working on at least two other beyond compliance projects. Beyond compliance projects have either an environmental or an employee health or safety benefit to them. As a result, Great Printers make this world a greener and better place.