K&H uses a number of different methods to help with
environmental measures.
1. We have invested an average of $2 million per year in
additional production equipment since 2005, thereby producing work
faster, with less waste.
2. Our staff receives continuing education about paper, ink, data
and other new technologies that support improved efficiencies and
manufacturing effectiveness.
3. We are one of the largest manufacturers of printing in the
Northwest. This has allowed us to partner and gain a competitive
edge with our suppliers in order to find affordable green
alternatives.
4. K&H runs every customer's mailing list through a process
called NCOA which reduces the amount of mail sent to businesses and
households that no longer reside at a given address.
5. We use soy-based inks in K&H's sheet fed department and UV
ink technology in our web division. We also recycle all of our
inks.
6. K&H utilizes energy efficient lighting resulting in a 67%
reduction in kilowatt lighting use.
7. In 2008 we were able to properly sort and recycle over 1.3
million pounds of paper.
K&H: Committed to a sustainable business for over a
century
K&H is FSC
certified. But even before green was golden, we were driven to
use fewer resources to reduce waste and lower our customers'
costs.
Lean manufacturing
K&H utilizes lean manufacturing practices. Lean practices
mean lower costs and less waste. We are constantly working to
improve the workflow of our printing, data and mailing operations,
and to cut down the number of processes a project has to go through
from start to finish. In direct mail, the engineering of a project
is key. We try to find the solutions that make the most sense, like
considering different sizes, folds and print formats to reduce
postage. Even your list management can make your project more green
as we clean up your list. It might shrink in size from 10,000 to
6,000 but at least then you know those 6,000 pieces will be
delivered. Less waste, less wondering, more green.
Reduce and recycle
We manage our electricity to reduce our costs and therefore
yours. And we've been recycling for over 50 years, long before it
was fashionable. Quarterly we meet to review current plant
manufacturing processes to identify problems and waste, so we
can create a more efficient operation.
Sustainability
We've been in business for over a century and our employees stay
with us for a very long time. In our minds, that longevity and
commitment prove our approach is sustainable. And it's not just the
environment that benefits from stewardship. Humanity does too.
A K&H Tale
We are constantly striving to reduce our environmental
impact, even when that means investing in expensive equipment to do
so. For example, K&H purchased an EMT finishing machine. This
piece of machinery has eliminated three steps in overall
manufacturing. In the past when K&H was producing a ballot, the
ballot would first need to be perforated on one machine, then
trimmed and finally batched out in certain quantities for the
counties. The EMT eliminated those extra steps: In one pass through
the EMT, we can perforate in-line, finish trim, and batch in the
quantities the counties specify, resulting in faster
production.