Greener Business Alliance Project Case Study 2

While some details may have changed since this case study was undertaken, the principles and the positive outcomes, both financial and environmental, remain the same and are transferable to any business.

Collotype Labels Pty Ltd

Company profile

Since the1930s Collotype Labels Pty Ltd (Collotype) has been printing labels for the wine and spirit markets. Collotype specialise in printing premium quality labels for the wine industry and produces approximately one billion labels each year, mainly from its facility in Mile End. It also provides services encompassing design through to production. Approximately 90% of its market is in Australia.

Manufacturing processes

Collotype produces both self-adhesive (pressure sensitive) and wet glue labels with about 70% being pressure sensitive. Collotype has indicated that the market trend is towards self-adhesive labels. Production processes undertaken at the Collotype plant for self adhesive labels include multi-colour offset printing, letterpress, silk screen, hot foil stamping, flexo, embossing and self adhesive bronzing. Wet glue processes including multi-colour offset printing, hot foil stamping, gold bronzing, graining, embossing and gold varnish are also undertaken.

Link to Yalumba

Collotype supplies Yalumba with printed labels.

Action undertaken

An eco-efficiency audit was conducted at Collotype in March 2002 that inspected and reviewed the company facilities and activities. This included assessment of the:

• Supply chain (transportation and logistics)
• Inputs including energy usage (electricity, gas), and water usage
• Outputs including waste generation, and products

Several eco-efficiency initiatives were identified during the program and were included into an Action

Plan including:

• reviewing level of illumination along production line,
• recycling of backing paper
• recycling Fountain Solution on site
  

The following table provides a summary of the Action Plan.

AREA	ACTION	POTENTIAL BENEFITS
Lighting	Review whether the current high level of illumination is required along the full length of the production line.	The electricity used by one fluorescent tube releases 0.5 kg of greenhouse gases every eight hours. Reducing unnecessary lighting will also reduce energy costs.
Design for environment	Investigate whether collaborating with Yalumba’s marketing group could lead to an eco-efficient label design that would minimise waste generated and raw material use (eg inks, foil).	Reduced waste to landfill. Reduced raw materials. Reduced manufacturing costs.
Recyclable backing paper	It is recommended that Collotype investigate the feasibility of recycling all of the pressure sensitive backing paper. This may extend to working with Yalumba to include the backing paper generated in their bottling production.	Reduced waste to landfill.
Recycle Fountain Solution on-site	It is recommended that Collotype investigate the benefits of recycling Fountain Solution on-site.	Reduced raw material and transport costs.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Take the Greenhouse Challenge.	Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Project outcomes

All of the items outlined in the plan were implemented resulting in a decrease in the quantity of waste going to landfill and a decrease in electricity consumption. Collotype engaged a consultant to review the lighting levels along its production line. As a result they installed a power factor correction device.

Environmental benefits

Installing power factor correction device has seen a reduction of 6-8% in energy consumption. Recycling of backing paper actioned at 4 customer premises reducing waste to landfill.

Economic benefits

Decreased electricity consumption with an estimated saving of $3000 per annum. A compactor has also been installed to reduce transport costs. Recycling of backing paper has provided unquantified cost savings to Yalumba.

Other issues that have arisen include:

Foil lining recycling has been investigated however a suitable recycler has not yet been found. Collotype are still looking to work with label designers to reduce waste. Being a part of the Project was seen to be a worthwhile experience by Collotype, stimulating additional focus on eco-efficiency. Although Collotype was already participating in a recycling program, as a result of its participation in this project, recycling activities have increased.

This page was last modified 23-10-2007