Jeff Gillam, long time MET staffer raised $2,400 dollars during the Cops for Cancer Barbeque in North Vancouver on Thursday September 16th. His 9 year old nephew joined him and raised an additional $600. You can see by his before picture this was not to be taken lightly. Jeff shaved his hair for his sister Donna who is fighting cancer. See the Video from the North Shore News.

Vancouver, B.C.

Printing Industries of America (PIA), the worlds largest Graphic Arts Trade Association announced that the winner of the industries premier “Benny” award for outstanding Environmental Print Project goes to Metropoiltan Fine Printers for their work with MONTECRISTO Magazine.

The Premier Print Awards attracts entries from companies in North America, South America, Asia, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

“This is a particularly amazing award for our team” says George Kallas, Founder of Metropolitan Fine Printers. “The fact that our team is recognized for the environmental innovation they have put their heart and souls into for so many years is particularly gratifying. I am heartened to see printers following our lead in a growing market that understands the value of making environmentally considered work look beautiful. Many thanks to our friends at MONTECRISTO Magazine for having the foresight and commitment to this path.”

Factors influencing this award include MET’s colour optimization and experience printing on 100% recycled, FSC certified paper with Non VOC emitting UV inks. MET is a Carbon Free and Zero waste plant. Other innovations developed internally help other printers move toward a goal of sustainable print excellence.

Amongst 7 awards, this brings Metropolitan’s “Benny” total to an astounding 29 Best of Category awards, the most Benny’s ever won by any Canadian Printer.

For more information on how you can print beautifully with a conscience, please contact

Scott Gray

scott@metprinters.com

www.metprinters.com

Metropolitan Fine Printers goes carbon neutral

VANCOUVER—Metropolitan Fine Printers has partnered with B.C. government run The Pacific Carbon Trust to go carbon neutral. The deal means clients will have the option of buying carbon credits to offset their paper consumption on a per product basis.

The move to go carbon neutral is the latest in the companies attempts to be as environmentally friendly as possible, says business development manager Nikos Kallas. “We recycle, use FSC-certified paper, all of the processes within the company are as environmentally friendly as possible,” he says. “We thought this was the final seal to make sure we are as environmentally friendly as possible.”

Client response to the move has been great, says Kallas. “We work with high-end companies and government agencies,” he says. “They are set to become carbon neutral within the next few years as well, so response has been good.”

Kallas says Metropolitan Printers encourages an environmental focus in its clients, but doesn’t insist on it. “We try to push the most environmentally friendly products we can,” he says. “Some clients don’t have budgets for that, by the climate is pushing it that way anyways. Suppliers have realized that if they’re not doing the right thing they will lose clients.”

Metropolitan Fine Printers is a Vancouver-based printer with approximately $15 million in sales according to Graphic Monthly Canada’s 2009 Gold List. Its CEO, George Kallas was named 2009 Printer of the Year.

Vancouver, April 22, 2010: Metropolitan Fine Printers Inc (MET), announces “Carbon Neutrality”.

Upon completing the Climate Smart Program www.climate-smart.ca on April 4, 2010, MET made the decision to collaborate with Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT) www.pacificcarbontrust.com a Crown Agency. PCT’s main focus is to build BC’s low-carbon economy and work closely with local carbon offset initiatives; a “back yard” endeavor worthy of MET’s commitment.

On April 8, 2010, MET, an industry leader in sustainability was awarded the most Environmental Awards for any printer in Canada. MET has maximized its sustainability practices through attaining FSC Certification www.fsc.com, pioneering EISwww.enviroimagesolutions.com Blanket Reuse-Recycle program, employing MET UV, volatile organic compound (VOC) free inks, and recycling within the organization. Attaining Carbon Neutral was the final seal on ensuring a clean environmental future and best sustainable practice in print and in all business functions at MET.

“It was only natural that we move to Carbon Neutrality. From now on, everything printed here at Metropolitan will be 100% Carbon Neutral and clients will have the option to buy carbon credits to offset their paper consumption on a per project basis. We are very excited and happy with this accomplishment” – George Kallas, President, Metropolitan Fine Printers.

“Metropolitan is not only setting the bar for the printing industry, but has a unique opportunity to send a message of sustainability to its many clients. We are pleased to be a part of that important message – and congratulate Metropolitan on achieving carbon neutrality.” – Scott MacDonald, CEO, Pacific Carbon Trust

For more information, or assistance on how you and your company can become Carbon Neutral, please contact:

Nikos Kallas
Business Development Manager,
(604)254-4201

nikos@metprinters.com

Metropolitan Fine Printers completed the Climate Smart Program at the end of March 2010. Climate Smart assisted Metropolitan with a strategy to become carbon neutral by early summer of 2010. The Program included an understanding of how to reduce annual emissions of CO2e by becoming zero waste, source locally where possible, implement a paper reduction plan and a staff engagement program.

Case Study – Metropolitan Fine Printers, Vancouver, B.C.

Founded in Vancouver in 1977, Metropolitan Fine Printers has built a successful company based on the triple bottom line of concern for the environment, focus on profitability and community service. The company operates its plant with the highest environmental standards and supports a number of charitable organizations. For example, Metropolitan was the founding sponsor of Canstruction Vancouver, which has collected more than 925,000 cans of food for donation to local food banks.

Metropolitan began a formal environmental program in 2004 and has put a number of initiatives in place:

• Recycling. Paper, cardboard, aluminum plates, old dies, steel strapping, blanket edges, old UV bulbs and soft plastics are recycled.
• Reuse. Wood pallets are used as long as possible and then chipped for use on walking paths and hiking trails. Leftover inks are collected by the manufacturer for reuse. Chemicals are reused as long as possible, and then collected for reprocessing.
• Refurbished press blankets. Press blankets are treated by Enviro Image Solutions (EIS) and can be reused as if new, up to as many as 12 times; then they are recycled.
• Safe cleaning products. Cleaning products are soy-based and biodegradable.
• Office equipment. Computers, printers and “old” technology are donated or recycled.
• Low-waste production. Installed on the presses are “Eagle Eye” error detection systems, which instantly identify imperfections and reduce waste.
• Green fleet. Finished goods are delivered by bicycle couriers, hybrid cars or biodiesel-fueled trucks.

The company continues to push the environmental envelope in developing new technologies and educating clients about the best green practices for print.

Consumers and businesses are becoming more and more environmentally-conscious, and Metropolitan’s clients are asking for green products. Customers want to be as sustainable as possible, and the company can identify processes and papers that are as green as possible within their budget. FSC-certified papers are typically a little more expensive than commodity papers, however Metropolitan can offer recycled papers printed with UV inks as an alternative.

There is a learning curve for designers and print buyers with the wide range of green offerings on the market. By developing and showcasing new products, clients learn what green solutions are available.

These sustainable initiatives have been a great benefit economically to Metropolitan. For example, the blanket refurbishing program, a patented process developed by Metropolitan, has returned more than $1 million in savings to the company since it was developed. And the program is offered to other printers through Enviro Image Solutions.

Once a blanket can no longer be refurbished, the aluminum bar, rubber and fabric materials are repurposed to avoid landfills. For example, the rubber can be mixed with other materials as surface for highways and school track fields or used as an alternative solid fuel. EIS is currently collaborating with an Alberta-based drilling company that has developed a promising process using rubber to absorb waste from drilling for oil and gas, which is then converted into a base material for road construction.

As advice for other print service providers, Nikos Kallas, business development manager for Metropolitan Printer, says, “Imagine if you could claim you had used the most sustainable printing practices developed on all of your manufactured printed collateral? It might read something like this: ‘This product was produced using the most sustainable printing materials and practices available in the industry today. It was printed on 100 per cent PCW, FSC-certified paper using UV inks. No greenhouse gases were released in the process and any environmental impact has been offset. Going green not only saved the environment, but it also saved money.’ It’s possible today!”

Read the complete Article:

http://graphicartsmag.com/articles/2010/03/green-marketing-strategies-for-printers

Source: Graphic Arts Magazine

VANCOUVER, BC—In the months leading up to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, Metropolitan Fine Printers Founder and President George Kallas is bringing home his own gold medal. The veteran printer was recognized on November 12, 2009 as Graphic Monthly Canada magazine’s Printer of the Year before several hundred cheering colleagues at a gala industry reception in Toronto.

Graphic Monthly Canada’s Printer of the Year Award was created six years ago to celebrate printers who represent the best in the industry. Chosen annually by the magazine’s publishers and editors, the award is given to a printer who, in the course of building his or her business, has changed the industry and contributed to the betterment of the graphic arts as a whole.

“I am truly humbled by this award from the industry where I have dedicated my working life,” said Kallas when he received news of the win. “All of us know that printing is a team sport. Metropolitan has become the company it is today because of our amazing clients, and the talent and dedication of our technical and sales experts. I have the pleasure of working with, and learning from, them every day. I share this honour with them.”

Kallas has been actively involved in the graphic arts industry for more than 30 years. Inspired by his longtime interest in technology and art, in 1977 he founded Metropolitan Fine Printers in Vancouver and began by printing stationery. Three decades later, the company is recognized internationally as one of the world’s leading commercial printers. True to its mandate, Metropolitan continues to introduce revolutionary alternatives to conventional printing that are transforming the craft, both in terms of quality and sustainability. In 2008, Metropolitan was the most awarded printer in Canada and the United States for its technical expertise and also honoured as the most environmentally progressive vendor in Canada.

TORONTO, ON—For the second year in a row, Metropolitan Fine Printers was awarded the Gold Medal for producing the “Most Progressive Environmental Printing Project” in Canada.

At last night’s Environmental Printing Awards banquet in Toronto, George Kallas, President of Metropolitan Fine Printers, received the honour for their production of the 2009 Western Wildlife Wilderness Calendar. The calendar exceeded all criteria required to take home Gold. In 2008, MET’s production of the Nike Inc. World Wide Annual Report won in the same category.

From the installation of MET’s first environmentally designed MAN Roland 700 40” UV press 7 years ago to our new State of the Art 700 series UV press, MET continually embraces the spirit of environmentalism. MET’s in-house R&D programs take their methodology far beyond the obvious recycled paper stocks. MET remains on the leading edge of their industry.

Kallas comments: “Very early on, we saw that environmentalism was the next wave of print technology. We embraced it years ago and it has allowed us to offer our clients incredibly beautiful sustainable printing at an extremely competitive price. I am proud of our staff who championed this initiative. Anything we can do to improve the environment is a win-win for our clients, employees and our community.”