Full-service event production company, Shepard, has launched a bold set of initiatives to reduce the 600,000 tons of garbage produced by the events industry each year. 

Its ambitious efforts were recently recognized by the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), which in May awarded Shepard with a certification for its sustainable printing practices – the first time an SGP certification has been awarded to a general services contractor. 

A non-profit organization that certifies printing facilities’ sustainability best practices, SGP certifies printing facilities as part of its commitment to create a more accountable, efficient supply chain for print buyers.

As an event management agency with eight locations across the U.S. that provide an array of services – including printing – for event organizers and exhibitors, Shepard sought SGP certification to reduce the environmental impact of its printing activities while helping customers achieve their sustainability goals. 

“We want to show other general service contractors that recycling and using chemicals and inks that are more environmentally friendly will cut costs back, and will also have a big impact on how shows are installed and dismantled,” explained Steve Margos, executive vice president of operations at Shepard. 

Decreasing waste, reusing materials and working with eco-friendly inks and substrates has allowed Shepard to attract a wide base of clients who are concerned about corporate responsibility.

Thanks to its sustainability commitment, Shepard has been able to reduce its operational expenses and in turn, pass those savings on to its customers. 

Shepard’s eight printing facilities nationwide have reduced operating expenses in the following ways:

• Storing and reusing event graphics
• Choosing environmentally-friendly solutions for lighting and energy
• Decreasing landfill waste and increasing recycling

With sustainability as one of its core corporate principles, Shepard integrates environmentally friendly policies and practices into its organization by operating in a way that promotes energy and material conservation and waste reduction. The company is also committed to assisting clients in reducing and managing the environmental impacts of their events. 

Concerned about the excessive amount of waste that the trade show and events industry produces each year, Shepard maintains a three-pronged approach to sustainability that includes the following commitments:

• To take action to reduce the environmental impact of its activities
• To provide clients with the expertise, products and solutions that help them achieve their own sustainability objectives
• To provide employees with an environmentally conscious workplace

“While Shepard’s commitment to its employees and customers is a top priority, the organization is also pleased that its SGP certification will serve as motivation for others in the industry to adopt sustainable solutions,” Margos said. “Shepard hopes that other general services contractors will see that recycling and choosing chemicals and inks that have a lower environmental impact is both responsible and cost-effective.” 

Additionally, Shepard hopes to demonstrate how trade show displays are installed and dismantled by encouraging other GSCs to emphasize storage and recycling solutions over waste. 

“The early responses to (our) efforts have been so overwhelmingly positive that they alone create a compelling case for sustainability from a financial and ecological perspective,” Margos added.

To learn more about Shepard’s sustainability initiatives, go HERE.

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