As a company we realize that our world's resources, while extensive, are not limitless and therefore need to be protected. We want to do our part to make sure that future generations can both utilize these resources and enjoy this planet as we have.
Typically the environmentally conscious decision is not the cheapest one. As it does cost more to be environmentally conscious, the decision to be so is made out of a sense of social conscience rather than through purely economic modes of thinking. The drive towards environmentalism requires leaders who are willing to bear the cost of doing business cleanly.
At JCO we are asking the question; 'Is there a more responsible way to produce printed material?' We think so and to that end are trying to put forth options to be more environmentally conscious.
What We Are Doing Now
At JCO we feel our society's reliance on fossil fuels is an unsustainable situation, because of this we are looking in to acquiring our energy from alternative sources. Currently we are making monthly donations to the New England Wind Fund. This fund donates money to the construction of new wind farms so that more New England's energy can be produced in an environmentally friendly manner.
The Forestry Stewardship Council is a third party certification organization that recognizes sustainable forestry practices. The FSC grants a Chain of Custody certification the practice of which guarantees to the end user the wood in their product was grown and harvested in a responsible manner. JCO became FSC certified in 2006 because we feel this is an important first step to ensuring the printing industry does as little harm as possible to the earth as a whole.
If you would like more information on FSC CoC certification, click here to request a brochure.
What We Are Interested In Doing
It may be possible for our plant to be made more energy efficient; to achieve this we are considering working with one of the US Department of Energy¹s Industrial Assessment Centers. The IACs are groups of industrial engineers at universities around the country who audit manufacturing facilities and suggest ways to reduce energy usage. JCO is looking into having the IAC center at UMass audit our plant to help us reduce our demand for energy.
It is now possible to acquire energy from national suppliers that is produced in an environmentally friendly manner. Possibilities for responsible energy sources include wind, solar, and bio-mass. These sources of energy do come at a premium, but it is possible to purchase some or all of our energy in this fashion. The program for these types of energy in our area is called the New England Green Start program; JCO is considering purchasing energy from this program.
