Visual Impressions to begin 30-day Green Tier public comment period

VISUAL IMPRESSIONS TO BEGIN 30-DAY GREEN TIER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

July 14, 2015

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The public has an opportunity to comment on an application for Wisconsin's Green Tier program by Visual Impressions, Inc. of Milwaukee.

Visual Impressions is applying for Tier 1 of the Green Tier program, which is designed to encourage and recognize companies that are committed to superior environmental performance. To be accepted into the program, applicants must have a good environmental record and must have or commit to implementing an Environmental Management System.

Visual Impressions is a screen printing and garment embroidering facility. It is a single point source for its customers, working to provide sustainable options including efficient layouts, packaging and transportation logistics.

Visual Impressions began their sustainability program in 2011, establishing a Sustainability Committee and receiving a sustainability study grant from the Milwaukee Economy, Energy & Environment (Me3) program. Visual Impressions participated in both Milwaukee's Me3 and Me2 (Milwaukee Energy Efficiency) programs, and participates in the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership, which is a non-profit sustainability certifier of printing facilities.

Visual Impressions implements continuous improvement projects throughout their facility from pre-press planning to final shipping. A few examples include:

Ordering input materials 'just in time' to eliminate potential spoilage or obsolescence.

Talking with suppliers to better understand and take measures to reduce impacts associated with input materials.

Providing frequent training on proper handling of inks, solvents and other volatile organic compound-containing chemicals and shop towels to minimize waste and exposure.

Enhancing green space with the addition of a vegetable garden.

Recycling more than 82 tons of cardboard, paper, plastic and metal since March 2013.

Reviewing annual continuous improvement projects using SMART approach to project planning, using metrics and baseline measurement to identify specific actions. Recently reduced recycling floor space by 50 percent using such methods.

Future sustainability initiatives include:

continuing to improve recycling efficiency,

diverting embroidery stabilizer waste,

establishing an improvement plan with Focus on Energy for air compressor leaks; and

investigating energy improvements including more efficient lighting and printing technologies, door seals, and air circulation.

The DNR will accept public comments on Visual Impressions' Green Tier application through August 14, 2015. Comments may be directed to Jessica Lawent, Wisconsin DNR, 2300 N Martin Luther King Jr Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53212, by email to Jessica.Lawent@wisconsin.gov or by calling 414-263-8653.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Lawent, Jessica.Lawent@wisconsin.gov, 414-263-8653

Last Revised: Tuesday, July 14, 2015