Our View on Sustainability
The idea of corporate sustainability – providing quality goods and services to customers while minimizing the impact on the environment and the use of natural resources – is something that GBS has embraced and looks to perpetuate throughout our organization on a daily basis.
Realizing the importance of balancing our current corporate consumption of fossil fuels with the need to account for them on an equal and ongoing basis, GBS has adopted policies to help us contribute to that process and be a responsible corporate partner in the marketplace. We believe these practices will not only benefit the environment, but will also positively impact our customers, suppliers and employees.
Our Sustainable Practices
Some of the sustainable practices we have instituted in our plants include the following:
- Reuse printing plate envelopes for as long as possible before replacing and recycling them.
- Reuse shipping pallets for as long as possible before replacing/recycling them.
- Recycle damaged and outdated roll stock paper when it doesn’t contain adhesive.
- Recycle and properly dispose of all waste ink and chemicals.
- Recycle cardboard, plastic, metal, batteries and silver from used film.
- Utilize a more environmentally-friendly plate making process (transitioned from turpentine to water-based soap wash) that also uses less energy than previous methods.
- Reduce energy usage by replacing old light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs.
- Eliminate all hazardous sewer discharges
- Utilize variable speed compressors for energy efficiency
- Air compressors at our Malvern, Ohio location have been upgraded to variable speed drives to reduce energy consumption.
Some of the sustainable practices we have instituted in our offices include:
- Recycle excess paper used by placing recycling bins throughout many of our facilities.
- Reuse excess paper (when appropriate) by making use of empty spaces and back- sides for notes, lists, etc.
- Avoid the internal use of paper wherever possible by encouraging the storage, transmission and sharing of documents digitally via email and online storage portals.
- Recycle used printer cartridges and office equipment as appropriate.
- Reduce energy usage by replacing old light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs.
- Reduce energy usage by encouraging employees to turn off lights and computers when not needed or in use.
- Purchase office products made with recycled paper or with a lower environmental impact when available.
- Encourage employees to avoid unnecessary travel by making use of video and teleconferencing options when appropriate.
- When employee travel is needed, encourage carpooling and ridesharing or other low impact travel options.
- Half of the offices at our Malvern, Ohio location are heated and cooled using geothermal energy.
As an advocate for sustainable daily practices and processes in the marketplace, GBS is continuously looking for new ways to positively impact the environment and improve our overall business operations. As we continue to educate our employees, explore new opportunities to make sustainable contributions, and encourage our business partners to do the same, we will continue to do our part in being a responsible corporate citizen.