Compulabel can be classified as an environmentally friendly company. From office practices to efforts in our manufacturing area, we are making environmentally-wise choices - and have been doing so for years.

We proctice sustainability, which means we are meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In using green practices, we are also saving green. By conserving resources to help our environment, we save money and keep down costs for our customers.

John Kassal, formerly Plant Manager and now Director of Research and Development, serves on the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institut's Task Force on Environmental Best Proactices. He discussed Compulabels current environmentally friendly initiatives as well as some new opportunities he is investigating. Current proctices include reusing, recycling and using products made from renewable resources.

In our manufacturing area, we recycle scrap paper, corrugated boxes, film, aluminum plates, and scap iron from the blades used to make perforations. We even sell some of our waste so that it can be reused or recycled. Rather than disposing of the pallets that come with our rolls of paper, we sell them back to the pallet company for reuse. We also sell the plastic in which the pallets and paper are wrapped.

Even the inks used on our presses are environmentally friendly. Instead of using petroleum-based inks on our offset presses, we use soy inks made from soybeans, a renewable resource. Our flexographic presses use water-based inks, instead of alcohol-based ones. This saves us money in addition to saving the environment.

Another way the company conserves is by using heat generated by an air compressor to heat the shop in the winter. The compressor, used to supply air for all of the machines in the shop, generates 150,000 BTUs of heat. In the summer, this is vented outside but in the winter, it is put to good use.

Only the waste from our pressure-sensitive labels is not currently recycled, but John Kassal is looking into changing that in tghe not-so-distant future. One of our suppliers is sending its matrix waste and liners to be recycled into material that can be used for decking and other applications. The resulting wood-plastic composite combines the best characteristics of wood and plastic and can be used in patios, playgrounds, jetties, marinas and boardwalks.

John has seen this application firsthand. He walked on flooring made from this material at a conference he attended. "You can't tell the difference," he says and estimates that recycling our pressure-sensitive materials would save the company $50,000 a year in disposal costs.

In the office, employees areencouraged to use both sides of a sheet of paper before recycling. Old files are shredded and recycled, and employees recycle their soda cans and plastic bottles.

"We recycle whatever we can," John says.