Success Stories
Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter members are always implementing new and innovative sustainable business practices. Check back here regularly to learn about the contributions Charter member businesses are making towards sustainability.
Sustainability in Action @ PhotoArts
Jun 3, 2010
Rod Meharry of PhotoArts was a presenter at the May 2010 Sustainability in Action function and following is a summary of his presentation.
Rod Meharry has been a sustainability fan for many years so the decision to join the Charter was an easy one. Rod touched on a number of sustainability actions taken by Photo Arts and described how the company reuses packaging to the point where new packaging material is no longer purchased. However, an action Rod is particularly proud of is the purchase of a printer that uses water-based UV curable ink. “This allows us to start moving away from solvent based inks” says Rod.
The new printer allows Photo Arts to print directly onto almost any surface. According to Rod this has two environmental advantages; firstly, there is no need to use vinyl as the base printing surface which means for example that recyclable materials like cardboard can be printed onto directly. With solvent printers the printed vinyl has to be glued onto the cardboard which makes it almost impossible to recycle. Secondly, significantly less ink is used; one litre of UV cured ink will print the same area as 21 litres of solvent based ink. Rod also discussed a new display system developed by Photo Arts with the brand name woode™. The woode™ display system consists of non-toxic plywood and cardboard, and as it does not rely on nails or glue it can easily be flat packed for shipping.
‘Click here>>>’ to download the PhotoArts fact sheet for this function.
