Sustainable MIR

Midland Information Resources’ sustainability efforts have been part of our evolution for the last two decades. Our solutions encompass not only our processes and facility, but our environment, community, and employees as well.

From day one, in 1982, MIR’s vision to provide quick-turn, short-run, one and two color technical publications has helped to reduce costs, eliminate waste, and save valuable resources. But an idea is only good if it is implemented well. MIR has shown our dedication to the environment through the use of environmentally friendly products, our switch to 100% digital print, and continually looking to the future for areas of improvement.

Products

    • In the early 1990’s we moved to soy-based inks which:

    v Are a renewable resource

    v Are easier to remove in the de-inking process when recycling paper

    v Have lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than traditional petroleum-based inks which helps to reduce air pollution by minimizing toxic emissions

    v Have been found to spread approximately 15% further, reducing ink use and printer cleanup costs

    • All traditional inks were then replaced by dry toner in our switch to 100% digital print. Dry toner:

    v Removed the need for personal protective equipment during the printing process

    v Eliminated chemical hazards present with traditional inks.

    v Reduced our VOCs to less than 1%

    v Improved the work environment for press operators since it is non-toxic and does not give off an odor

    • Unlike traditional inks, some waste toner is recyclable and all of the toner we use is non-hazardous

    • Nearly 100% of the paper used in our plant comes from certified sustainable forests. This ensures reforestation, proper treatment of indigenous people, and fair labor practices.

Digital Printing

    • The biggest shift in our production process and greening effort has been the transition to 100% digital print. This switch has allowed us to:

    v No longer use, store, or dispose of traditional pre-press or press chemicals.

    v Reduce make ready to a nominal amount.

    v Replace traditional hazardous inks with dry toner (see benefits above).

    v Improve the health and safety of our employees by:

      § Eliminating hazardous chemicals.

      § Reduce the overall noise level of the plant to a point that hearing protection is not required.

    v Become certified as a no exposure company in relation to the NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) storm water regulation.

MIR as a whole

MIR has established an all volunteer 4R Team. The purpose of this team is to focus on using the 4R model of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink” to increase awareness and to recommend and implement changes to increase the sustainability of MIR. The team looks at the entire company; plant, office, building, and grounds issues. Items they have implemented or upgraded include:

    • Receptacles have been placed near beverage dispensing equipment around the facility to collect aluminum cans and plastic bottles. These items are then donated to an area Boy Scout troop who recycles the cans for money which is used for activities, supplies and equipment.

    • The team organizes periodical “grounds patrols” to assure any debris that make it onto our grounds do not leave our grounds.

    • They also provide information to all employees on ways they can be more environmentally conscious in their everyday life.

Current Initiatives

    • Certification in Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Sustainable Green Printer (SGP).

    • As part of our local energy provider’s Efficiency Partners program, an energy assessment was completed and an Energy Efficiency Action Plan has been outlined. The team will help implement the following in 2010:

    v Install occupancy sensors

    v Turn-off idling equipment

    v Install vending machine controls

    • Implement the use of environmentally conscious cleaning chemicals

    • Reduce our landscape needs by returning a portion of our land to prairie grass or wildflowers

MIR has demonstrated over the last several decades their dedication to environmentally friendly practices. From the conversion to 100% digital print to everyday policies that can be used in the workplace or at home, MIR is doing their part to make our environment the best it can be. To learn more about MIR’s green efforts please contact Dan Rebarcak at drebarcak@midlandcorp.com.