Bowden Printing recognises that its activities, products and services can affect the environment through the use of paper, substrates, inks, chemicals, energy, water, packaging, transport and waste. Bowden Print Group accepts a social and moral responsibility to continually improve its environmental performance beyond minimum legislative requirements and any other environmental obligations to which we subscribe.
We will make conscious, evidence-based decisions so that environmental protection, sustainability and responsible resource use are considered in our activities, including design, procurement, production, distribution and end-of-life options for printed, signage, promotional and merchandise products. Our environmental approach is aligned with the principles of ISO 14001, including compliance obligations, prevention of pollution, life-cycle thinking, risk and opportunity management, measurable objectives and continual improvement.
Bowden Print Group will comply with applicable environmental legislation, customer requirements and other obligations relevant to our operations. We are committed to preventing pollution, reducing environmental harm, minimising waste, using materials, energy, water, packaging and transport efficiently, and managing inks, toners, chemicals and other materials responsibly through safe storage, handling, spill prevention and disposal. We will train and motivate employees to understand their environmental responsibilities and participate actively in environmental programs.
We will identify, set, monitor and review environmental objectives and targets, regularly review the resources needed for the effective functioning and improvement of the Environmental Management System, and communicate relevant environmental performance, initiatives and options to shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and other interested parties. We will also engage suppliers and subcontractors whose products or services support our environmental objectives wherever commercially and operationally practical.
Bowden Print Group will provide education and options to clients on environmentally responsible paper and substrate solutions where suitable for the application, budget, availability and performance requirements. These may include FSC-certified, PEFC-certified or other recognised responsibly sourced paper options, recycled-content paper, post-consumer recycled content where available, paper produced using recognised environmental controls, lighter-weight stocks, right-sized formats and efficient imposition to reduce material use and waste. For signage and display work, we will consider durable, recyclable, reusable or lower-impact substrates where these are fit for purpose.
We will promote digital proofing, accurate quantity planning and print-on-demand options where practical to reduce overproduction and obsolescence. We will provide clear advice to clients on the benefits, limitations, availability and cost implications of environmentally preferable materials and will avoid unsupported environmental claims. Environmental and sustainability claims made by Bowden Print Group will be accurate, relevant, clear and supported by appropriate evidence.
Bowden Print Group recognises that sustainability includes environmental, social and governance considerations. We will support responsible purchasing, efficient production, waste reduction, ethical supplier engagement, transparent customer communication and practical continual improvement. We support the values expressed in the United Nations Global Compact and will align our business practices, where relevant to our size, operations and influence, with principles covering human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. In practical terms, this means we will seek to respect human rights, avoid knowingly contributing to human rights abuses within our operations or supply chain, support fair, safe and lawful labour practices, expect suppliers to do the same, take a precautionary approach to environmental challenges, promote greater environmental responsibility, encourage environmentally preferable technologies, materials and processes where suitable, and act ethically, transparently and lawfully.
This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant to Bowden Print Group’s operations, stakeholder expectations, current market practice, compliance obligations and continual improvement objectives.