This is the view from our factory in Llandysul. Not surprisingly it gives us a sense of the value of the environment we operate in.
Printing has historically been a ‘dirty business’, but modern processes and practices mean giant improvements have been made. Sustainability is now at the heart of operations at Gomer Press.
In 2023 we signed up as a Carbon Balanced Printer, becoming the first printer in Wales to do so.
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A print business becomes Certified Carbon Balanced when it has measured its primary carbon emissions and balanced (offset) these impacts through World Land Trust’s global Carbon Balanced projects.
Working with a Carbon Balanced Printer helps to reduce your own carbon impacts as a publisher. To communicate this commitment to your own customer base, the World Land Trust Carbon Balanced logos can proudly be incorporated on the imprint pages of your books.
World Land Trust Certificates – issued job by job, or on a periodic basis – indicate the amount of CO2 offset as a result of working with a Carbon Balanced Printer. These acknowledgements of your positive action also highlight the area of carbon-rich habitat preserved (see example below)
“The money that is given to the World Land Trust, in my estimation, has more effect on the wild world than almost anything I can think of” Sir David Attenborough, WLT Patron
You can find out more at the World Land Trust (Carbon Balanced Paper) website.
In late 2019 Gomer completed a major solar installation project, covering an incredible 80% of the main roof area. In total, we installed 668 275w panels which cover an active area of 1102m2. Under optimal conditions the system generates 184kw, which goes a long way towards powering the plant. The anticipated annual yield is 166,000kw, which saves around 81 tonnes in carbon emissions every year. The solar array has a life expectancy of of 45-50 years, so that’s 4000 tons of carbon emissions avoided.
About 25% of our total electricity needs are met by our solar installation. The other 75% is all from renewable energy.
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Our modern manufacturing equipment is designed to eliminate many of the damaging processes historically involved in printing. Our presses run with reduced alcohol, and our XL106 is specifically a low energy model, using around 20% less than a conventional press. We are certified with the Forest Stewardship Council® and all our paper – without exception – is sourced from certified sustainable forests so our clients can be confident that printing with us is not costing the earth.
• All hazardous waste is collected by a registered waste carrier in compliance with Hazardous Waste Regulations (2005) the majority is recycled.
• All aluminium printing plates are recycled and run processless without chemical usage.
• All paper waste from production and office paper waste is recycled.
Gomer Press also commit to:
• Ongoing compliance with all relevant national and international standards.
• Training staff to increase environmental awareness.
• Measurement and regular review of material usage.
• Ongoing reduction of the potential pollution hazard from site operations.
• Follow best practice in waste management and recycling.
• Implement energy reduction measures and regular review of energy usage.
• Make energy usage a key factor in investment decisions.
Please contact us for FSC® mixed sources logos if you are printing with us.
If you’d like to see a copy of our FSC certificate click here.
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Below is a sample certificate that can be issued when producing carbon balanced books with Gomer Press…
