Environmental Requirements

3.1 Fitness for Purpose
Certified products should be good performers in their intended application. It is implied that certain standards of product performance are implicit in the label. Certified product must ensure that the product is fit for its intended purpose and where relevant:
3.1.1 The product meets the performance requirements of the relevant Australian Standard for its intended application; or
3.1.2 The product meets any other internationally accepted standard if it is to be exported
 

Litsupport has been in operation since 1997, the company specialises in supplying corporate legal documents as photocopied and bound files, and offers secure and confidential services for their customers.

GECS have reviewed ISO9001:2000 Certification for Litsupport, as well as Sample Job ordering, Tracking and Administration sheets. This evidence shows that the Litsupport services and printed matter meet these requirements.
 

3.2 Packaging Requirements
The plastics packaging of printed matter must not contain chlorine (where the chlorine is chemically bound to the polymer). Packaging must not contain plastics in which phthalates are present. This requirement also applies to printed matter from finishing subcontractors (e.g. book binders).
 

The finished printed material is delivered in cardboard boxes. This is the only packaging used on the products.

3.3 Requirements as to Paper and Raw Materials
The eco-labeled printed matter must consist of at least 90% by weight of paper that fulfils the Good Environmental Choice Australia Ltd. requirements for Publishing Paper GECA 4-2003 or Recycled Paper Products GECA 11-2002, with the exception of books, catalogs, binders, folders, pads, booklets and forms which must consist of at least 80% by weight of paper which fulfils the standard for Publishing Paper GECA 4-2003. Printed packaging must consist at least 90% by weight of paper that fulfils the Good Environmental Choice Australia Ltd. requirements for Recycled Paper Products GECA 11-2002.

Carbon paper must not form part of the printed matter. The printed matter must not contain metal dyes or metal foil printing by exception on book covers, binders and folders and official documents which are produced according to the requirements of the authorities or legislation.
 

From 1 September 2007 Litsupport have committed to using 100% recycled paper (Fuji Xerox Recycled Supreme) GECA are satisfied that this paper meets the requirements of this criterion.

4.1 Production Methods Requirements
In this section the ecolabelling requirements for the various printing methods are presented. The requirements are divided up into requirements relating to the following four stages in the production of printed matter. The verification process will effectively assess each of the criteria in the scoring matrix and attribute a score.
The different stages are:
• Page production (the same requirements for all printing methods except digital printing)
• Form production
• Printing
• Finishing (the same requirements for all printing methods)
 

The scope of this verification includes work done directly by Litsupport, with no scope for any sub-contracted printing. Litsupport use 2 types of printer/photocopier- The Fuji Xerox DC1100 for Black and White, and the Fuji Xerox L5540 for colour. Litsupport have 2 offices, one in Sydney and the other in Melbourne. Each office utilises 8 DC1100’s and 1 L5540. GECS conducted a site assessment of the Sydney office during this verification.

4.1.6 Digital printing

All servicing of printing machines is carried out by Fuji Xerox Valet Service. GECS have reviewed a copy of the processes performed by this service; dealing with the requirements. All copiers are turned off at night. GECS are satisfied that the requirements of this criterion are met.

4.2 Production Requirements – Finishing

No lamination, lacquering or gluing is performed on the Litsupport products. The only finishing applied is either ring-binding or Lever Arch files (Earthcare Binders). GECS have inspected these products and are satisfied that this criterion is met.

4.3 Paper cutting waste – requirements for all printing methods
The paper cutting waste can at most be 20% for every single eco-labelled printed item (in weight or in area).
 

GECS have been informed that cutting waste from Litsupport’s production is very low, as the company does not guillotine. 99% of the waste from Litsupport is paper packaging, which is all recycled.

4.4.1 General requirements for production chemicals

GECS are informed that ALL chemicals used by Litsupport are handled by Fuji Xerox staff. This is a digital printing operation and hence this criteria is not relevant.

4.7 Continuous Environmental Improvement

The requirement for continuous environmental improvement is not relevant for the first assessment and at the commencement of a licensing period. This criterion will be assessed at the time of annual audit. The purpose of this criterion is to encourage and provide clear direction to recognised printers that the requirements of this standard will be raised at the time of the subsequent revision.