OUR PROMISE
At ICON, we are committed to implementing and reinforcing environmentally friendly initiatives throughout our daily operations and processes. Through the use of industry leading waste disposal systems, we make it our goal to leave the smallest carbon footprint by applying a variety of green programs throughout our workplace.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES
At ICON, we continuously implement the following sustainability practices to help reach our goal of decreasing our carbon footprint. These practices include:
Actively Investing in eco-friendly printing processes & equipment
Throughout the past few years, ICON has transitioned to solely using Durst RHO RollInks.
- The only inks approved by the Nordic Swan environment standard for the Environmental Test Institute Nordic Ecolabel.
- Our inks are no longer chemical-based and are now environmentally-friendly UV vegetable inks.
Sourcing biodegradable materials and paper products
All scrap paper, printing material and packaging cardboard from our production facility is collected and set aside in our facility. All liners and extra material leftover from install sites are also gathered and brought back to ICON’s facilities where they are added to this collection. All extra paper products are collected by our local vendor, Paper Fibres Inc, every 3-5 days to be recycled and repurposed at their facility in Mississauga. ICON’s partnership with Paper Fibres INC helps reduce water pollution by 35%, air pollution by 74%, and saves 4800kWh of energy per tonne of paper recycled. Enough renewable energy to power an average household for 7 months.
Sourcing and recycling small format print plates
ICON carefully removes used aluminum plates from presses and washes them of any leftover inks. Plates are changed out every 2-3 months and used until they are completely worn out. After this, we set the plates aside and weigh them for recycling to which they are sent out to our local scrap metal vendor where plates are melted down and repurposed.
Transforming ICON’s facilities into high efficiency buildings
All properties are retro fitted with a lighting system in place that delivers a 75% reduction in electricity use.
Maintaining greater control over total production quality
At ICON, we are dedicated to expanding our equipment roster to reduce the need for outsourcing of project elements. We conduct an annual internal audit to measure our total output per printer and overall emissions per machine. The data gathered from this information is then used to reduce redundancies and maximize each printer’s overall efficiency. Less efficient machines within our inventory will then be sold or recycled to aid in the reduction of our carbon footprint.
Within our facilities, we have introduced a no-idle policy for all trucks and couriers.
- ICON’s shipping bays and production facilities are outfitted with sensors that trigger exhaust systems when emissions get too high.
- Couriers that park in our shipping bays will trigger the system if idling for too long and our shipping team will instruct drivers to turn off their vehicles.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
PARK
Couriers park in shipping bays or outside garage doors.
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ALERT
Upon ringing the doorbell, camera capture the presence of vehicles and triggers a live feed to ICON's shipping department.
INSTRUCT
Couriers are instructed with all signage throughout the property to turn off their vehicles.
Rules are reinforced by all shipping staff.
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NOTIFY
In the rare case that the shipping bays are busy and vehicles are idling, sensors will trigger exhaust fans once CO2 emissions get too high.
REINFORCE
Fans are activated, shipping managers will reinforce No idling policy with couriers.
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PARK
Couriers park in shipping bays or outside garage doors.
ALERT
Upon ringing the doorbell, camera capture the presence of vehicles and triggers a live feed to ICON's shipping department.
INSTRUCT
Couriers are instructed with all signage throughout the property to turn off their vehicles. Rules are reinforced by all shipping staff.
Notify
In the rare case that the shipping bays are busy and vehicles are idling, sensors will trigger exhaust fans once CO2 emissions get too high.
REINFORCE
Infans are activated, shipping managers will reinforce No idling policy with couriers.
WHAT'S NEW IN SUSTAINABILITY
ICON has recently enrolled in a cutting edge recycling program for Plinth graphics. Working in partnership with HBC, ICON arranges pick-ups of the Plinth graphics from HBC stores across Canada and delivers them to our recycling partner for careful conversion. These waste-to-energy facilities are designed to convert the waste that remains after recycling into electricity for homes and businesses and/or stream for export to industries.
Within the Plinth graphics recycling program with HBC & ICON, here are some of the target annual metrics we hope to achieve the following:
- Avoid 45 tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases.
- Generate 24915 kWh of renewable energy, enough to power 27 homes for a month.
- Reduce the need for 11 tons of coal or 1903 gallons of fuel.
REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE
REDUCE
ICON is dedicated to reducing the number of colour proof outputs that it produces. With ICON's Fuji XMF, we create a single proof to multiple output PDF workflow. This helps reduce the total number of physical proofs produced by 30% minimizing ink and paper usage and reducing our carbon emissions.
REUSE
All of ICON's materials and equipment are used until their end-of-life to minimize waste and ensure maximum product efficiency. ICON's printers and printing plates are switched out on a minimal basis and all scrap materials are used as internal material samples and swatches.
RECYCLE
ICON takes part in several initiatives to recycle all production materials on a regular basis. From printing plates, cardboard, and all paper-based products, we partner with local vendors who collect our excess materials to recycle correctly. All paper supplies used within the office for administrative purposes are also collected on a weekly basis and recycled.
