What Makes Japan's Printing Standards Superior? Chinese Firms Learn from Japanese Printing Standards

Today, the green printing trend in China is unstoppable. In order to help printing enterprises learn from the experience of developed countries, the Beijing Printing Association held a seminar in Beijing on April 26 to interpret Japanese green printing standards and promote green printing technologies. So what are the advantages of Japanese printing standards? Let's take a look.

The Japanese green printing standard is titled "Offset Printing Green Standard (Services) Guidelines." It is a printing industry standard, formulated by the Japan Printing Industry Federation in 2001 and revised in 2006. According to the organizers, Beijing Longda Printing and Packaging Group obtained the standard through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery, Ltd., and spent 20,000 yuan to commission the Beijing Printing Industry Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Station to translate it. Li Zushan, general manager of Beijing Lingzhong Printing Machinery Technical Service Co., Ltd., interpreted the standard (2006 revision) at the meeting and introduced Japan's Green Printing Certification System. Some printing equipment and material suppliers introduced green and environmentally friendly printing equipment, printing processes, and printing materials at the meeting.

Green Printing Certification System (GP Certification System)

The Green Printing Certification System was established at the same time as the revision of the green standard. The certification body is the Japan Printing Industry Federation. Under the system, printing enterprises that work to reduce environmental burden in accordance with the Federation's "Printing Services" green standard are certified based on objective evidence.

Under this system, certified "printing factories and enterprises" (hereinafter referred to as "GP-certified factories") can use the "Green Printing Mark" (GP Mark) to prove that they are environmentally conscious printing factories and business sites (hereinafter referred to as "printing factories").

In addition, under the Green Printing Product Certification System, "printed products" that meet the green standard and are manufactured by GP-certified factories may also use the "Green Printing Mark (GP Mark)."

(2) Development of the system

The first step in implementing the Green Printing Certification System was the launch in April 2006 of the "Green Printing Factory Certification System," which certifies printing factories that meet the Japan Printing Industry Federation's "Offset Printing Services" green standard.

Then, in October 2006, the "Green Printing Product Certification System" was launched, under which GP-certified factories may use the green mark on their printed products in accordance with the green standard. In the future, consideration will be given to extending the use of this mark to printing equipment and materials.

Relationship between the Japan Printing Industry Federation's "Offset Printing Services" Green Standard and the Green Printing Certification System

Overview of the Japan Printing Industry Federation's "Offset Printing" Green Standard (Services)

The standard clearly defines offset printing services: "Offset printing services" refer to a series of services including paper-based offset printed products and related operations, planning, design, plate making, plate processing, printing, surface finishing, binding and finishing, and delivery.

At the same time, the content of the green standard has been upgraded in light of the implementation status of individual enterprises and organizations, and includes some independently established standards.

(1) Scope of application

The Japan Printing Industry Federation's "Offset Printing" Green Standard (Services) applies to offset printing services conducted by enterprises and offices affiliated with member organizations of the Japan Printing Industry Federation (incorporated association).

(2) Positioning and composition of the standard

The Japan Printing Industry Federation's "Offset Printing" Green Standard (Services) sets out, with respect to material procurement, processes, and environmental protection by engaged enterprises, the "Green Principles for Implementing Environmental Load Reduction Activities" and the "Specific Standards of the Green Principles."

In the first edition formulated in August 2001, the standard was positioned merely to indicate the direction of the industry's goals. After the green standard was formulated, over four years, the standard became increasingly widespread among printing enterprises. At this point, how to encourage more printing enterprises to more actively engage in activities to reduce environmental burden became particularly important. This also led to the following changes in the positioning of the green standard.

At the same time, the content of the green standard has been upgraded in light of the implementation status of individual enterprises and organizations, and includes some independently established standards.

(3) Integration with other standards

Although the "JFPI Offset Printing Green Standard (Services)" is a guideline for printing-related companies formulated on the basis of the business content of the printing industry, its development also fully took into account its integration with other standards (specified procurement items under the Green Purchasing Law, eco-label product certification standards, and the Green Purchasing Network's green purchasing guidelines). Therefore, if a company's business activities conform to the "JFPI Offset Printing Green Standard (Services)," they also conform to other relevant standards.

In addition, the "JFPI Offset Printing Green Standard (Services)" contains independent criteria not found in other standards. For these, the Environment Committee and the Green Purchasing Research Group of JFPI, which formulated this standard, set the content and target values of the criteria after thorough discussion.

(4) Perspectives of the standard

Broadly speaking, the standards and criteria were discussed from four major perspectives before specific content was formulated. This perspective is based on the approach of the Green Purchasing Network's "Basic Principles of Green Purchasing," covering each stage of the entire cycle from raw material extraction to product disposal, treatment, and final disposal, and considers the issues at each stage.

Explanation of the JFPI "Offset Printing" Green Standard (Services)

1. Material procurement

Taking environmental factors into consideration, the materials used for printing [encyclopedia weibo] products should reduce the environmental burden as much as possible, and such materials need to be selected when procuring materials. Even when materials are specified by the customer, it is important to propose the use of materials with a lower environmental load.

Here, the standard for "material procurement" as a component of printing products circulating in the market is defined.

① Use recycled paper made from recycled resources; ② Requirements for whiteness; ③ Requirements for coating usage; ④ Use of pulp that has undergone chlorine-free treatment; ⑤ Free of harmful substances; ⑥ Requirements for improving factors that hinder waste paper recycling; ⑦ Procure raw and auxiliary materials from companies committed to recycled paper manufacturing

(3) Surface finishing materials

(4) Adhesives for binding

(5) Management of material producers

— This article is reposted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362130.html