• Pureprint Group has published its first full environmental statement after extending their EMAS registration across the group last year

• EMAS (the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is widely accepted as the gold standard of environmental accreditation

• Pureprint is now the largest printing group to offer such an exceptional environmental assurance through a variety of sustainable printing solutions on a 24-hour operation basis

Pureprint Group has published its first full EMAS verified statement following the extension of their registration to the prestigious environmental scheme across the whole group last year. The latest report highlights the group’s exceptional performance in a variety of environmental KPIs since the last full report back in 2005. Some of the key results of the group include:

CO2 emissions reduced by 49.3%

Waste to landfill reduced by 71.9%

Gas consumption reduced by 49.6% and electricity consumption reduced by 30.3%

Dry waste recycling rate is now 94%

Zero alcohol is used on the presses

Pureprint has found that given the increasing occurrence of "greenwash" claims by a growing number of companies in many sectors, it is now even more important to have third party verifiable and completely transparent publicly reported environmental data. David Shorto, Print and Paper Buyer for Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace remarks: "Pureprint Group is the only company that I’m aware of, that does this in such detail. If everyone else followed, it would be a really good mechanism to evaluate a company’s environmental performance."

EMAS (the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), widely accepted as the gold standard of environmental accreditation, is a voluntary initiative designed to improve companies’ environmental performance. Its aim is to recognise those organisations that go beyond minimum legal compliance and continuously improve their environmental performance. For more information, please visit http://www.emas.org.uk/

Following their 2008 EMAS registration, Pureprint Group is now the largest printer in the UK to offer this exceptional environmental assurance with a 24 hr operation including extensive pre-press facilities, B1 and B2 printing and digital as well as in-house finishing and fulfilment using a variety of printing techniques.

The latest EMAS report confirms that the £16 million group is able to offer superior and at the same time environmentally friendly printing services at a much larger scale and to a much wider audience, allowing a large number of high-profile clients from the corporate, commercial, creative and fine-art sectors to reap the benefits of best sustainable practices in print and paper supply. In a recent customer survey, 68% of the group’s customers said that their buying decisions were highly influenced by the company’s sound environmental credentials.

Mark Handford, Chief Executive of the Pureprint Group comments: "On purchasing Beacon Press I was determined to maintain and advance the strong environmental traditions and standards already in place as well as demonstrate our commitment to lead the way in environmental management in the British Printing industry. The latest EMAS report proves that we have accomplished our environmental goals and fills me with confidence that we are well positioned to continue to do so during the expansion and growth of Pureprint Group."