FTA wins 2005 trade association Environmental Leadership Award

The Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), along with the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF), has been awarded the 2005 Trade Association Environmental Leadership Award. The award, bestowed by the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the State Small Business Ombudsman/Small Business Assistance Programs (SBO/SBAPs) in conjunction with the National Compliance Advisory Panel (NCAP), selected FTA, SGIA and PIA/GATF, (collectively known as the Graphic Arts Coalition), for their collaborative environmental educational efforts.

The award recognizes exemplary performance and leadership by a trade association to enhance members’ compliance with applicable environmental regulations and to encourage stewardship of the environment.

FTA was nominated and awarded for its past and current environmental initiatives to educate its more than 1,500 member companies. Listed among FTA’s merits was; the web-based Virtual Flexo Plant that offers extensive environmental information for all areas of a flexo facility; a 2 hour national videoconference that presented pollution prevention practices to printers, suppliers and regulators; the development of the book The Flexo Environment, and an environmental self-assessment workbook to help flexographers assess their environmental compliance status, material efficiency activities and to identify opportunities to reduce waste; a monthly electronic newsletter that provides members with the latest information on environmental regulatory issues and processes. Additionally, FTA has partnered on ten different occasions with the other honorees in organizing the National Environmental, Health & Safety Conference for the Graphic Communications Industries, as well as organizing regional seminars to provide attendees with a forum to network, exchange ideas and hear solutions to environmental issues.