Environmental award for Welsh printers

Nov 14 2007 by Aled Blake, Western Mail

A PRINTING firm is leading the way in sustainable business development – even employing on-site worms to get rid of food waste.

Aberystwyth-based Cambrian Printers recycles printing plates and recycles 90% of its waste.

The company has been named environmental printer of the year by specialist publication, Print Week.

Cambrian Printers says it takes its environmental role “very seriously” and is always looking for ways to improve environmental performance.

It has installed one central vacuum system for printing machinery – replacing 14 individual ones, saving on energy and providing a healthier working environment for staff.

An on-site wormery turns tea bags and waste food into plant food.

Carrick Wilkie, sales development director, said, “This is the greatest accolade we’ve ever received and a pinnacle in the company’s history.

“We take great pride in our work and the awards we’ve secured in the past; however this is the one award we’ve always aspired to win and sets us apart as leaders in our industry.”

The judges’ commentary referred to their success as being unsurprising considering the wealth of accreditations and awards the company’s has gathered in the past.

It said, “Cambrian Printers jumps straight to the head of the line this year, picking up the environmental gong on its first attempt.

“Those in the know will not be surprised however, as this family-owned printer has been at the forefront of all things green for many years, as attested to by its raft of accreditations and awards.”

Robert Read, chairman and managing director of Cambrian, said, “This is a huge award for us which really puts us at the forefront of our industry.

“We’ve taken major steps to improve our performance as a business and have considered the environment as a core part of this long term strategy.

“We’ve made savings in terms of technology and equipment, making sure we reuse and recycle where possible. We’ve also been creative, for example introducing an interest free loan to staff for bikes as a carbon neutral way to travel to and from work and introducing a wormery to cope with our canteen waste.”

Cambrian has also decided to print all standard work on Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.

Paper certified by the FSC is considered the environmentally sound choice for printing.

Mr Read added, “We print a range of publications on behalf of clients who consider our commitment to the environment and sustainability as one of the main reasons for doing business with us.

“This award just proves we’re the leaders on a UK scale and is a fantastic boost to our team.”

Established in 1860, Cambrian Printers is a family owned business which provides a range of printing services for some of the major international publishers of journals, books, magazines, catalogues and a wide range of commercial products.