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Current Sunrise Practices That Reduce Impact
On the Environment
In the Pressroom
- 100% of the Sunrise cards produced domestically are printed on paper
stock from sustainable forests.
- Sunrise Greetings does not use isopropyl alcohol in our pressroom,
and we reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by using soy and other
vegetable-based inks for our greeting cards, catalogs, and other printed
materials. [VOCs are a contributing factor in the formation of ground-level
ozone, or smog, and a significant source of indoor air pollution.] Utilizing
these inks also allows us to decrease the number of press washes necessary
for the upkeep of our equipment, saving water.
- We use low-VOC chemicals and varnishes.
- All chemical residues and inks from our pressroom meet federal standards
and are disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way. In 2007 11,766
lbs. of such waste were shipped to a hazardous waste handler and incinerated
to recover its energy value.
- Our printing plates are made of aluminum and are recycled after use.
In 2007 we recycled 12,340 lbs. of aluminum printing plates.
- The silver from the film used in our pre-press area is recovered
and reused.
- All waste paper from our printing facility and offices is recycled.
In 2007 we sent over 809 tons of paper to recycling facilities, or about
135,000 pounds per month.
- We reuse cardboard whenever possible and then recycle (along with
all waste cardboard).
- Metal drums are sent back to vendors for reuse.
- Wooden pallets and skids are used until unusable, then sent back
to the pallet manufacturer to be ground into wood chips.
- Over 98% of Sunrise cards can be recycled.
In the Office
- All waste paper from the office environment is recycled (see point
7 above).
- We recycle all used computer equipment, such as computer towers, monitors,
and printers.
o 100% of the components are reused in one form or another.
o Heavy metals are smelted down and reclaimed.
o Plastics and glass are ground up and used in making asphalt.
o In 2007 2,938 lbs. of computer equipment were recycled.
- All spent fluorescent light bulbs are recycled and all components
are reused. In 2007 we recycled 244 bulbs.
- Sunrise has a van pooling program that allows employees to share
a company-owned van when traveling on company business.
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