80 PRT GROUP /SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021 6.1.1. KimiPrint for the environment To KimiPrint, 2021 was characterized by the development of important projects aimed at the safeguard of the environment, energy efficiency and the search for solutions allowing to streamline the available raw materials. First came the introduction of LEDs. During the year, all bulb lamps in offices or inside UV machines were replaced. Also, the plant welcomed two new printing machines equipped with LED lamps. These actions provided considerable savings in energy consumption, with no reduction nor slow-down of KimiPrint’s production capacity. Ink is another important topic. KimiPrint’s policy is based on the use of UV ink on plastic or water-based materials for printing on fabrics and cardboard. These types of ink have less impact on the surrounding environment if compared to solvent ink. Our commercial policy tends to propose sublimation printing to customers, as this provides several advantages in terms of environmental impact: - Replacing PVC with polyester, which is a recyclable material; - Using UV or water-based inks that have a low impact on the environment; - Using smaller packages with products that can be folded; this reduces transportation costs. As of packaging, plastic was dramatically reduced and replaced with recycled cardboard boxes and paper tape. Since July 2021, KimiPrint chose to join Ecolabel19; on every package it indicates the type of material it is made of, and its recycling modes. A further action is the project to streamline materials and resources. The ambitious goal is to group several orders envisaging the same material – even from different customers –, in order to use the total amount of the available raw materials – or most of it, anyway. In so doing, the final scrap is widely reduced while manufacturing a high-quality product. In order to make the Production department identify the commissions to be grouped together, a specific computerized platform is being developed; it will be able to collect and analyze orders, in the most precise way, to assess which commissions may undergo the same manufacturing at the same time. 19 Ecolabel UE is a European brand certifying the reduced environmental impact of products or services proposed by companies which have obtained it.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDUyNTU=