Sustainability: Reliable Graphics Goes Reliably Green

For more than 30 years Reliable Graphics has been a leader in the reprographics, imaging, and document management industry. An American Reprographics Company (ARC) reprographer, Reliable Graphics is one of the largest reprographics firms in California with more than 175 employees, 10 locations, and a large radio dispatched delivery fleet. Reliable Graphics is committed to serving the ever-changing needs of its clients with technology that enhances the printing experience and transforms documents into effective communications tools. Its services include wide-format color, digital bond sets, electronic publishing, facility management, equipment and supplies sales, graphic design, digital plotting, scanning, and document storing. Many of the technologies used to provide these services are from Océ.

In its quest to give its customers the best solution for each and every project, Reliable Graphics has exceeded the traditional boundaries of today's typical reprographic business. One of the biggest ways it has distinguished itself in the reprographic industry and with its clients is in "going green." In fact, Reliable Graphics was the recipient of Océ's first-ever Green Reprographer of the Year award. Reliable Graphics, which was recognized for this honor at the IRgA 2008 Annual Convention and Trade Show, was selected as the winner for its achievements in environmentally responsible business practices and for assisting its customers to meet their own sustainability goals.

Reliable Graphics has been very proactive when it comes to its policies regarding sustainability. For this shop, being environmentally responsible is more than simply a good idea or an afterthought. The reprographer has put "green" into practice across all aspects of its business—from the products and services it provides to its customers, to the energy-saving and environmentally-friendly measures it has taken within its facilities, to the environmental incentives it offers its employees.

A Green Seed Takes Root

Reliable Graphics' commitment to sustainability was instituted by its parent, ARC, and was avidly championed by Angela Giraldo, director of Green Services and Marketing for Reliable Graphics.

"Our green program started off with just getting our clients to use recycled paper. From there, we took it even further, asking ourselves 'what else can we do to be green?' We explored how Reliable Graphics could promote sustainability in the products we use in our business operations, the services we provide to our customers and the programs we create for our internal employees," said Giraldo.

As a mother of young adults, Giraldo made it a personal mission to research ways that Reliable Graphics could expand its commitment to environmental responsibility. "As my children go through life, I want this world to be just as beautiful years from now as it is today. I care about the environment, and want us to do everything possible to protect it—not only in our homes, but in the workplace," she said.

Certification—a First Step to Sustainability

Research conducted by Giraldo and her internal team led Reliable Graphics to achieve certification as a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) reprographer, an active membership in the US Green Building Council and prominent utilization of the ARC GreenPlan environmental business initiatives. Reliable Graphics is the only reprographer to hold FSC and SFI certifications. While the process took several months, Giraldo believes it was well worth the effort.

"We're able to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability to our customers, because we now carry and print on paper that is FSC and SFI certified. The FSC logo is printed on the first page of every print job. We always give our clients the option to print on recycled paper, and overwhelmingly most every customer says 'yes.' Everybody cares—even the contractors—as we're all in this together for the benefit of the environment," said Giraldo.