Our Contributions to Environmental Protection

Our Responsibility

We are committed to environmental protection. As part of our employment contract, all Interprint employees are obliged to protect the environment. Corporate culture and policy create a framework and work environment where environmental protection is a priority.

Our Raw Materials

Our most important raw materials are décor papers and décor printing inks. The paper used by Interprint is free of heavy metals, and any waste is recycled. Interprint’s ink is water-based and organic. No heavy metals, solvents or other inorganic compounds are used in its colouring components or bonding agents.

Our Handling of Water, Air and Energy

Different water circuits allow Interprint to reuse the water it needs, keeping consumption to a minimum. We operate two treatment plants to clean our wastewater: one for print production wash, and a second for water used in the electroplating process. The quality of our treated wastewater is continuously checked and certified by external organizations.

Since our inks are exclusively water-based, any exhaust from our hot air drying process is free of air-polluting substances. Air pollution caused by paper dust is limited to a small quantity and is collected with the aid of extraction systems and filters. Other air pollution, like that which arises from the laboratory facilities of our Quality Assurance department is also minimised via suitable extraction systems.

We pay special attention to the economical use of energy. The ink drying process in our presses is run with gas-heated hot air dryers, which offer the best energy efficiency for this type of drying. Our presses are equipped with heat exchangers that use the exhaust air’s thermal energy for heating the fresh air required for the drying process, reducing the use of primary energy by up to 30%. Wherever hot liquids such as thermal oil or water are cooled, we use heat exchangers for process water heating and in the space heating system of our factory buildings. The majority of our process cooling is generated via energy-efficient cooling towers; a large reservoir that also allows us to store cold energy. To reduce electricity consumption, we equip new presses with electric direct drives. In addition to a better efficiency, these drives feed energy back into the power supply network during all braking actions.

All measures aim to further reduce primary energy consumption and to more effectively utilize the energy we use.

Our Environmental Management

Our materials flow plan details the requirements for storage, processing, handling and disposal of all dangerous substances used in our laboratory facilities and ancillary departments.

We separate our waste décor paper, packaging material and film so that it can be recycled. Chipboard, residual wood and residual waste undergo thermal recycling, while domestic waste and sewage sludge from the production wastewater treatment are disposed of conventionally. An outside company handles the disposal of sewage from our wastewater treatment facilities.

Our Investments

We seek environmentally friendly features in any new facility, machinery or equipment we consider purchasing. Investments are targeted for energy saving, energy recovery, waste separation, water reuse, clean air control and workplace design. The furnishing of production facilities with energy-efficient equipment is an essential part of the investment policy.