TLMI continued to examine sustainability solutions for the label and package printing industry during printTHINK Summit. On June 18, 2025, the virtual event tackled the benefits of sustainability audits and certifications. 

Theresa Vanna, print market specialist, Primex Plastics Corporation, detailed the benefits associated with the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP). The SGP is a non-profit organization that certifies printing and packaging facilities’ and their suppliers’ sustainability best practices.

TLMI has emphasized sustainability throughout the years, and the association’s Sustainability Committees have addressed the topic from all angles. The printTHINK Summit served as another vehicle to drive environmental friendliness. In fact, there are a host of benefits associated with sustainability certification.

“Certification can often be seen as a scary adventure, but it displays a commitment level in a company and showcases its culture,” said Vanna. “These companies want to promote continuous improvement.”

According to Vanna, the key element of certification is transparency. And younger generations are fully invested in sustainability. “When talking to the current generation in the workforce, they do a lot more deep dives before they even apply. When they walk in the door, they sometimes know more about the company than people sitting across the desk. Certification helps you with that.”

The certification process also enhances internal culture and operations by promoting a deeper understanding of practices and fostering continuous improvement. Certification formalizes sustainability initiatives, ensuring they are incorporated into long-term strategies and operations.

Forming SGP

SGP was established in 2008, following a surge in interest about the environment.

“We wanted to create a trusted certification body that really focuses on the print industry,” explained Vanna. “Since then, we have expanded. We wanted to support organizations with environmentally responsible practices, minimizing waste and conserving resources. Sustainability is a journey, and you never graduate. It’s always continuous.”

There are three elements of certification: Sustainability Management System, Best Practices, and the SGP Impact Tracker. This ensures an establishment of policy your company is committing too. Here, communication key with internal and external stakeholders. By establishing best practices, companies can work on capturing metrics while also analyzing waste stream and product design. Companies are encouraged to partner with customers to create products that reduce environmental impact. Meanwhile, the Impact Tracker monitors best practices. The Impact Tracker provides a location for all documentation to be entered.

The Impact Tracker

The SGP Impact Tracker is an online dashboard tool. Users can calculate everything from financial performance to their carbon footprint. Users can also enter multiple facility data collection sets if they have more than one location.

The tool generates annual reports and manages companies’ audits. They can also manage and conduct EHS assessments, as well as establish timelines and development implementation plans.

“You’re provided with templates, which enables a starting point,” remarked Vanna. “We showcase how to conduct an audit all the way to providing a mission statement. You’re also assigned an auditor as a third-party validator. They help with any questions and challenges along the way. You’re assigned a mentor from a certified facility, as well. This is a person who has gone through the journey or is going through it.”

The SGP is built on community engagement, too. “The great thing about being a volunteer organization is after getting certified, you can be a leader and have community engagement. We also have various committees at your disposal.”

Real value

While sustainability is often thought of as a costly process, there are financial benefits to going green.

“There is definitely an ROI, and our goal is show what the ROI of sustainability is,” stated Vanna. “It doesn’t cost green to be green. We have seen a reduction in waste and energy consumption, and we’ve had several facilities utilizing renewable resource energy and creating efficiencies on their production floor. Our goal is to create benefits and be transparent. It’s not as daunting as it used to be because SGP is invested in helping you in your journey.”

According to Vanna, there are numerous financial figures associated with sustainable endeavors. Based on SGP-certified printers, Vanna cited a 64% reduction in VOC emissions, along with a 42% reduction in hazardous air pollutants and 43% reduction in hazardous waste.

From an energy standpoint, 52% of printers reduced their energy consumption while 62% have seen an increase in recycling. Finally, 70% have reduced waste going to the landfill.