Sustainability issues in the realms of the environment, good governance and society play a key role in the day-to-day operations of JELGAVAS TIPOGRĀFIJA. In this section, you will find information about the measures we have taken, process reviews and the improvements we are implementing on a continual basis. Our objective is to ensure transparency and responsible communication with customers, partners and the public.
Greenhouse gas emissions
In 2024, the company generated 5,384 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions according to the ClimateCalc calculation methodology. Most of these emissions are caused by three factors:
- buying paper as a raw material, including its production and transportation,
- development of printing plates, including their production, delivery, and technological preparation for printing,
- delivery of finished products to customers.
In order to gradually reduce these sources of emissions, we have drawn up action plans for each of the aforementioned factors. While we realise that it is not always easy or possible to implement sustainable solutions immediately, we firmly believe that this is the only ethically acceptable direction if we are to continue creating products that we are proud of.
We are seeking not merely to reduce emissions, but to eliminate them altogether, wherever possible.
Energy
Electricity
In 2023, we built our own solar park, which entered service on December 1, with 914 installed panels with a total capacity of 502 kW. The park is capable of providing 23–24% of the total volume of electricity consumed annually by the production plant.
2024 was the first full year in which the company operated using the solar panel park, which generated electricity totalling 486133 kWh. Of this amount, 397765.68 kWh was consumed by the production plant, equivalent to 19% of total electricity consumed by the company’s production processes in 2024. The surplus was transferred to the shared electricity grid.
The company buys the additional electricity it requires for production from AS Latvenergo, continuing the practice first implemented in May 2021 of only buying electricity generated from renewable resources.
Not only do we pay particular attention to the sources of electricity, but also to its rational and economical use as confirmed by the “Energovienoti” (“Energy United”) project label awarded to the company by the RTU Institute of Environmental Protection and Heat Systems (VASSI) at the end of 2023.
Heating
The production plant and office premises are heated by a company-owned boiler house, using a renewable energy resource in the form of wood chips. No fossil fuels are used for heating and production processes.
Recuperation
All ventilation systems in the production plant are fitted with a heat recovery system, enabling the recovery of part of the thermal energy of exhaust air, and thus ensuring thermal energy savings. In the production process, various equipment operates using compressed air produced with the help of compressors. Thermal energy generated by these compressors is recovered through recuperation and released into the joint heating system.
Manufacturing automation and digitalisation
Modernisation of production processes and constant renewal of our range of equipment are a key part of our sustainability policy.
Augmenting the company’s post-processing capabilities, at the end of 2023 we installed a Duplo digital UV varnishing machine with a foil application module, thus reducing the need to use outsourced services at this stage.
In 2024, we bought a new digital printing machine Fujifilm Jet Press 750S, providing for more efficient small-run work, significantly reducing the volume of waste paper, printing plates and chemical waste.
In turn, in 2025, we started introducing new production IT systems, whose development the company devoted several years to, thus automating production processes even further. Concurrently, we are continually implementing measures to make the company’s, employees’ and customers’ data even more secure.
Waste management
Waste is an unavoidable part of the production process, and it is the personal responsibility of both the company and each employee to reduce the amount of waste we produce. We sort and transfer waste in compliance with the requirements for waste recycling or disposal with the objective of gradually reducing the proportion of waste per production unit. We devote particular attention to reducing the amount of waste paper and irreversibly disposed waste, and compared with the previous year, in 2024 we succeeded in reducing the amount of waste to be disposed of by 52%.
From day to day, we foster our employees’ awareness not only about how important it is to sort products, but also about the significance of sorting household waste. We accomplish this by providing access to clear and understandable information, creating convenient sorting conditions, and encouraging responsible use of resources. Parallel to this, we organise educational trips to waste sorting and disposal sites, invite representatives of other businesses to share their experience, and encourage our personnel to save resources and reuse them whenever and wherever possible.
Certificates
FSC®
At the end of 2007, JELGAVAS TIPOGRĀFIJA was the first printing house in Latvia to be awarded the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) supply chain certificate. This means that our customers can select paper made from wood obtained from sustainably managed forests for the production of books and other printed materials. Read more on the FSC® website.
Nordic Swan Ecolabel
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel certificate certifies a more environmentally friendly product production process, caring for nature and consuming less energy. It also confirms that the production process and products adhere to stringent environmental and quality requirements. To obtain this certificate, a number of requirements must be met, such as material content testing, chemical approval, indoor air quality, air, water and soil emission control, as well as the use of a licensed waste recycling and disposal programme, renewable energy and efficient use of resources. Read more on the Nordic Swan Ecolabel website.
ClimateCalc
Obtained for the first time in May 2022, The ClimateCalc certificate confirms that JELGAVAS TIPOGRAFĀFIJA complies with the requirements for using the carbon footprint calculation method. The certification process is overseen by the International Association ClimateCalc according to the standard set by the European trade association Intergraf. This is currently the only international standard for calculating carbon emissions in the printing industry. From the printing house’s perspective, ClimateCalc certification means viewing and reducing emissions generated during the production process in numerical terms, while customers can assess the potential environmental impact of the order before starting production, with a view to reducing and/or compensating for this impact. Read more on the ClimateCalc website.
Powered by Green
From May 2021 onwards, for production purposes the printing house has bought electricity generated from renewable resources only. Maintaining this practice, from January 1, 2024, we buy green electricity from AS Latvenergo, as certified by the Powered by Green certificate issued to us.
Zaļā josta (Green Belt)
The EKO label Green Belt is awarded to businesses that have joined SIA Zaļā josta’s voluntary management programme for used packaging or environmentally harmful products, thus taking care to ensure the collection, sorting and recycling of used packaging into secondary raw materials. By obtaining secondary raw materials from used packaging, we not only save natural resources, but also reduce the amount of buried waste at landfills and disposal sites. Read more on the “Zaļā josta” website.