Going Green - How to Reduce the Impact Your Training Program Administration Has on the Environment
Many of us make a conscious effort to practice environmental responsibility. We’re diligent about taking weekly newspapers to the local recycling center, turning lights off when we leave a room, and paying close attention to receptacles when discarding plastic water bottles or pop cans. However, when it comes to the workplace and the administration of your training programs, there’s more to being environmentally responsible than simply incorporating energy-efficient lighting in the classrooms or having an active recycling program for course materials.
In an effort to be more environmentally aware, and let’s face it, also to save on printing and shipping costs, many leading organizations are taking a closer look at the administration of corporate training materials. Participant guides, job aids, smile sheets and exercises – the materials list goes on and on for the critical elements to make your instructor-led and on-the-job training complete and effective.
From on-demand production to making the leap to digital form, opportunities abound for reducing the impact your training program administration has on the environment. Read on to learn how “going green” can help your organization put its best foot forward.
Moving to just-in-time, rather than just-in-case
The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) estimates that U.S. organizations spend nearly $130 billion on employee learning and development annually, with two-thirds, or $80 billion, spent on the internal learning function. The remainder—approximately $50 billion—is spent on external services. We estimate 5-10%, or $2-3 billion, is spent on the production and shipment of training materials.
Embracing on-demand digital printing technologies and just-in-time delivery, you can minimize the costs associated with inventories, obsolescence and waste. With the ability to print what you need, when you need it, and in the exact quantities you need, just-in-time digital printing helps you avoid the costs and risks associated with document obsolescence, which amount to an estimated 25% of all documents, according to InfoTrends.
For example, one Fortune 500 company now utilizes Standard Register’s SMARTworks® technology and online digital repository, where training materials are stored in a catalog format specific to departments throughout the organization. Trainers can place orders for materials based on when and where they are needed, reducing obsolescence and the associated costs. In the first year alone, the company saved over $400,000 in obsolescence by leveraging on-demand production.
At the same time, on-demand printing gives you an array of options for one-to-one personalization, thus increasing readership and retention while ensuring the materials remain an invaluable reference for the learners in the future.
Incorporating recycled materials
The Recycled Products Cooperative estimates that over 100 million trees are cut each year to supply fiber for writing and printing papers in the United States. This is not only harmful to forests, but to air quality and water reserves as well.
One way to preserve resources is to begin incorporating recycled paper with high levels of post-consumer content into the production of your organizations training materials. Using recycled paper not only saves landfill space, but also minimizes water and energy consumption.
Think!Inc., a global provider of strategic negotiation skills training to Fortune 1000 companies, has made it a point to be more conscious of the impact their training materials are having on the environment. Previously, the organization used polypropylene covers on the manuals, large plastic cases to house kits of training materials, and did not use recycled paper throughout their course materials.
“I have always been the eco-conscious one in the office and pushed to change the way we have been operating,” said Leina Dietmeyer, Think!Inc. Operations Manager/Data Analyst. “In the line of business we are in, printed materials are a necessity. Standard Register helped us come up with solutions to be as environmentally-friendly as possible by eliminating cumbersome plastic cases, and printing on recycled materials. We are continuously open to ideas Standard Register provides on staying green.”
By selecting a partner who recognizes its responsibility and commitment to the environment, you can ensure that papers are from sustainable forests and that production methods limit harmful effects on the environment. Get involved by checking recycling symbols to see what percentage of recycled fiber was used during the manufacturing process, and explore your suppliers’ certifications with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The transition to digital formats
Taking a “digital” approach to the administration of your training materials can come in two forms: utilizing digital file formats and converting to digital printing methods, where hard copy materials are eliminated or significantly reduced.
Using digital files instead of printing documents can save a considerable amount of paper, energy, water and landfill space – not to mention reduce greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate change. Look for partners who can provide CD/DVD replication services and consider USB drives to distribute training materials in a digital format.
Consider transitioning to digital printing methods. Digital is ideal for quick turn, short-run, four-color work for leader guides, certificates, invitations, job aids and more – typically print work in quantities less than 1500. This printing method even has advantages over soy inks. While soy is comprised of 86-percent oil—which isn’t biodegradable—digital printing uses 100-percent nontoxic toner. Toner-based inks also produce less chemical waste.
Near-site production
Imagine these distribution scenarios: How do you get 200 kits each to 30 offices in time for that regional training on a new product? Three hundred documents to one location for an all-day seminar? Chances are you’re forced to race the clock, meaning you pay a premium to ensure materials are delivered where they’re needed, when they’re needed.
If you often find yourself in these or similar situations, consider partnering with a training solutions provider with a nationwide network of printing, warehousing and distribution centers. With near-site production facilities, you’ll benefit from a reduction in freight expenses and lessen the impact of emissions on the surrounding environment.
One leading financial services provider did just that when they transitioned their in-house print center to Standard Register, with our nationwide network of printing, warehousing and distribution facilities. Training materials are now produced on-demand at the most cost-effective location, resulting in $225,000 overall cost-savings or 24% reduction in total print spend, and a reduced environmental footprint.
Standard Register recognizes its responsibility and commitment to the environment and to the communities in which we work and serve.
If you’re looking for ways to clean-up your training program administration, as well as lessening and eradicating environmental hazards, contact us today. Together we can share responsibility for reducing the environmental impact of daily operations.