Environmental
Quad has always been committed to being a more sustainable business. Our journey has taken on new momentum as environmental narratives and needs change.
Our approach
At Quad, we know that our efforts to have a positive impact on the environment have a ripple effect on our employees, our stakeholders, our communities and our world. We also understand that this is a journey, and even as we faced challenges in 2022 in some areas, such as with the paper supply chain, we continued to advance in others, including carbon emissions. Our efforts to minimize our impact on the environment — and to maximize our ability to create a better way for all of our stakeholders — contributes to our success as a marketing experience company. We are proud of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and the environment, and we continue to innovate and hold ourselves accountable to drive meaningful progress.
“Our belief that sustainability and profitability go hand in hand informs all of our efforts.”
Natalie Hahlen
Director of Environmental Health & Safety
Aligning with third party frameworks
Quad’s environmental efforts most closely link to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets. We use these goals to create a better way for our shared planet.
Supporting our shared environment
We have always believed that what is good for the environment is good for business.
Our sustainable journey
Operating sustainably has long been an integral part of our purpose. Accordingly, Quad has been recognized as a leading environmental advocate and innovator. Clients expect us to make their printed products and packaging more sustainable. We choose our suppliers with care, look for reliable chains of custody in our suppliers, and challenge ourselves to discover more sustainable materials and responsible sources.
Certified forest products
By printing with certified forest products, Quad is making a positive choice that helps safeguard the environment and the future of sustainable print.
- In partnership with clients, 79% of the paper purchased was third-party certified.
- Quad was one of the first printers to be triple chain-of-custody certified for sourcing materials from responsibly managed forests by the three leading forest certification programs: FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council), SFI® (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) and the PEFC™ (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). Quad partners with paper producers in low-risk forestry areas such as North America and Western Europe.
- The paper mills from which Quad purchases paper for its U.S. printing operations do not use elemental chlorine, and we require all mill partners to comply with local laws with respect to their wood fiber sourcing, including the requirements of the U.S. Lacey Act for harvesting timber.
EnviroTech™ bio-based inks
In 1991, our own ink manufacturing division, Chemical Research Technology (CRT), developed EnviroTech™ inks.
- For the heatset web offset printing process, our inks contain approximately 25% renewable resource content from ingredients such as pine and linseed oils, far exceeding the 7% industry standard of soy-based ink.
- For the rotogravure process, our inks contain approximately 23% renewable resource content from tall oil resin.
- Quad is one of the largest ink manufacturers in the nation, and the only printer that produces its own ink. We are bringing more responsible technologies to the industry.
Recycling, reusing, reducing
Quad reclaims materials and diverts them from landfills through industrial and office recycling programs. We strive to improve our sorting practices, recycling rates and employee education across our U.S. footprint.
Recycling operations
Due to our large-scale printing operations, we generate a significant amount of paper trim waste. This wastepaper is collected, shredded and baled by grade, then sent out for recycling.
- 98.2% of industrial wastepaper and other solid waste across our U.S. facilities was recycled in 2022.
- Color-coded recycling containers have been placed at the machine level to quickly capture industrial recyclables.
- Most trash containers have been replaced with clearly labeled containers for different types of recyclables.
- In 2021, we turned to our waste disposal company to perform an audit on waste from our Wisconsin facilities, which helped identify a mix of materials that could have been diverted for recycling. These findings will be used to further improve our recycling practices.
Regenerative energy
The mark of regenerative thinking is upending the way we historically view waste and emissions to transform them into sources for supplemental energy.
Replacing or reusing plastics
The use and disposal of plastics is an increasing environmental concern. At Quad:
Reducing hazardous waste
Quad manages hazardous waste from the time it is generated through disposal. We have rigorous processes in place for identifying, segregating, containerizing, labeling, storing, shipping and disposing of hazardous waste.
- 0.44 pounds of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) federally regulated hazardous waste was generated per 1 million pages printed in 2022.
Energy & emissions
We know greenhouse gases are a leading cause of climate change, and we are working to reduce emissions from our operations. Our most effective method: lowering Quad’s energy intensity across our enterprise. Through ongoing energy management programs, spanning nearly two decades, we have made contributions to lowering our energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gases.
How we calculate emissions
Quad uses a carbon footprint calculator to identify the amount of emissions related to key company activities. This allows for conscious management and reduction efforts.
- We calculate Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide equivalent emissions using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change greenhouse gas methodology, and emissions factors from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Corporate Climate Leadership — Emissions Factors for Calculating Greenhouse Gas Inventories. All emissions data are verified by an independent third-party.
- 0.585 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per 1 million pages printed was produced in the U.S. in 2022 — a year-over-year intensity decrease of 3%
Department of Energy partnerships
From the beginning, we have realized environmental challenges cannot be tackled in isolation. Our industry partnerships and collaborations with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) show how we are working together on a national scale to create a better way.
Energy-efficient technologies
Retiring old equipment and investing in efficient next-generation alternatives are proving to be one of our most effective strategies for reducing energy consumption.
- High-speed, high-output printing presses were installed at our Saratoga Springs, N.Y., plant in 2021 and our Sussex, Wis., plant in 2019. These presses use 41% less electricity and 33% less gas per printed page compared to older presses.
- Five plants adopted a new method for prepping printing plates, cutting CO emissions in 2020 by roughly 1,270 metric tons at the five plants (Hartford, Lomira, Sussex and West Allis, Wis., and Saratoga Springs, N.Y). This reduction was expected to total 2,100 metric tons in 2021.
Earth & education
Our collaboration with Pine View Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in southeastern Wisconsin creates awareness of sustainability’s importance in daily life with young learners.