Establishing Standards: A Double-Edged Sword for Advancing Green Printing in China

ppzhan News: (I) Basic principles and framework for the formulation of printing environmental protection standards in China.

Implementing green printing in China is still something new. We mainly draw on the experience and practices of developed countries and, in light of China's actual conditions, formulate standards, monitoring methods and related measures that suit our national conditions.

The basic principles are: uphold the scientific outlook on development, protect consumers' rights and interests, follow a people-oriented approach, and while learning from and absorbing foreign standards, pay attention to China's actual situation; gradually improve the environmental standards for all types of printed matter and steadily advance the scope of application of labeled products, thereby promoting structural adjustment and technological upgrading of the printing industry and reaching or approaching the level of developed countries within a relatively short period of time.

Standard framework: taking the environmental standards for printed products as both the starting point and the ultimate goal. Formulating environmental standards for printed matter covers the heavy metal content of finished printed products, requirements for materials, auxiliary materials and processing techniques, as well as prepress, press, postpress, materials handling, the discharge of wastewater (including various chemical solutions and blanket wash), waste (cleaning rags, PS plates) and exhaust gas, and the recycling of finished products. It also specifies the qualifications of inspection bodies and the inspection methods.

The formulation and implementation of the standards are carried out under government leadership—that is, the government issues the standards and specific implementation measures. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Press and Publication jointly signed a strategic cooperation agreement on implementing green printing, and led by the Printing Technology Association of China, a "China Printing Industry Green Printing Promotion Office" (abbreviated as the "Green Office") was specially established to handle related research, drafting of standards, publicity and promotion, and to actively participate in the formulation and promotion of green printing standards by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

(II) Steps and process for formulating the technical standards for printing environmental labeling products.

From June to July 2009, a standards kick-off meeting was held, a standards drafting group was set up, and the direction, scope of application and reference basis for the standards were determined.

From July 2009 to March 2010, the drafting group organized experts to carry out on-site research in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Jinan, and finally produced a draft of the standards.

In February 2010, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Press and Publication held talks in Beijing on green printing and the printing environmental labeling standard, and discussed the significance of implementing the standard and its impact on society.

In March 2010, a meeting of the drafting group and the expert group was held, which in principle approved the draft standard and put forward suggestions for revision.

From May 12 to 14, 2010, the Environmental Certification Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Printing Technology Association of China organized industry experts and technical experts from 34 participating and co-drafting enterprises—including Heshan Astros, Chung Hwa Book Co. (Hong Kong), Junsi Group, Aipai Group, Tianjin Toyo, Fuji Xingguang, Gold East Paper, Wende Xiangchuan, Heidelberg [product news space], Shanghai Meiji, China Banknote Credit Card, Shanghai Yanyin, Changde Jinpeng, Shanghai Zijiang Color Printing, Zhejiang Dongxiang New Orient, Jiangsu Caihua, Wuhan Hongjinlong, Shenzhen Jinjia, Guan Xingyu China Banknote Special Anti-counterfeiting, Dongtian Transfer Printing, Xinjin Tuozhan, Zhuhai Letong, Zhongshan Songde, Yuncheng Plate-making, Shaanxi Beiren, Guangzhou Tongze, UPM, Donggang Security Printing, Xi'an Xizheng, Shanghai Yinuoer, Shanghai Taiyo Machinery, Beijing Zhongyin Zhoujin Technology, Guangdong Guanhao, Sichuan Xincai, Zhejiang Mozhihua, Yichang Dachang and Fujian Hongbo—to revise and confirm the standard clause by clause, sentence by sentence and word by word, and to produce a draft for public comment, which was submitted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

From June to August, after thorough further research and repeated revisions, the draft for public comment was released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in September 2010 to solicit opinions widely from society; meanwhile, in mid- and late September, technical verification was carried out with the relevant participating enterprises. It is expected to be promulgated and implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection by the end of the year.

(III) The main issues this standard targets and aims to solve.

1. The problem of solvent pollution. Solvent-based inks require the addition of large amounts of solvent when put on press, and domestic printing enterprises generally do not consider solvent recovery during printing, causing relatively serious volatile organic compound pollution;
2. The environmental problem of inks. The environmental problem of inks is gradually attracting attention. Because China lacks effective environmental protection regulations, there is no basis for judgment when choosing and using ink products, resulting in harmful residues in printed matter;

— This article is reposted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362162.html