George Fuchs, the director of technology and regulatory affairs for the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM), understands the importance of protecting the environment.
 
“I have always been an environmentalist in the sense of my deep respect for the importance of protecting our planet,” said Fuchs.
 
For the past 30 years, Fuchs has been guiding the printing and ink industries towards positive environmental change. Prior to his current role at NAPIM, Fuchs spent 15 years as the organization’s manager of environmental affairs, and before that, was involved in regulatory initiatives at Allied Signal.
 
“Early on in my career in the chemical industry, I had the advantage of working for chemical companies that not only had strong and effective regulatory compliance efforts but frequently went well beyond basic regulatory compliance,” he recalled. “I was impressed and encouraged by these companies. In my experience, most companies want to operate in a way that they have a minimal ecological impact.”
 
It is fitting that Fuchs has received this year’s William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award from the Printing Industries of America. The PIA’s most prestigious environmental award, the William D. Schaeffer Award is given annually to an individual who is advancing environmental awareness and action in the graphic communications industry. Fuchs received the award on April 28, 2018, in downtown Pittsburgh during the PIA’s Spring Administrative Meetings.
 
Fuchs said that he was extremely honored and humbled to be selected for this award.
 
“In my view, within the graphic arts industries there is no more prestigious recognition than PIA’s Schaeffer Award,” he added. “I would be remiss not to commend and extend my gratitude to NAPIM’s member companies and suppliers whose strong commitment to the protection of human health and the environment made this possible.”
 
The Schaefer Award
 
The criteria for the Schaeffer award includes a wide range of criteria, which Fuchs is certainly qualified for:

• Education - increasing knowledge of environmental effects of materials and processes employed in printing operations to both the printing industry and regulatory agencies;
• Public Relations - promotion of a wholesome and active graphic communications image by addressing and mitigating regulatory and public concerns for the environmental impact of graphic communications operations;
• Continuous Improvement - encouragement of better sustainable business practices and reduction of health hazards within the printing industry;
• Compliance Assistance - industry assistance with EPA and OSHA regulations;
• Regulatory Issue Involvement - investments of time and/or personal or organizational resources that have benefited the industry in terms of cost savings, more reasonable regulations, improved community relations, and/or a more wholesome work environment;
• Pioneering Efforts - unique efforts or creation of an original sustainable development that contributed to healthier working conditions and improved environmental control.

 In particular, the PIA noted that Fuchs has been involved in a wide range of activities, pointing out his work on the Bio-Renewable Content (BRC) program, which allows ink manufacturers to calculate and specify the bio-renewable content of their product on their packaging, thus improving sustainability.
 
That is but a small portion of what Fuchs has accomplished for the industry. He has been a key leader in NAPIM/NPIRI Summer Course and Fall Technical Conference for many years.  Fuchs also works closely with ink companies on EPA, TSCA and OSHA compliance, keeps members up-to-date with new regulations, leads committees to go over major issues and coordinates with other trade associations on regulatory compliance. He led the effort to create the “Industry Guide for the use of Printing Ink on Food Packaging” document, which offers guidelines on food packaging safety from an ink perspective. The list of Fuchs’ achievements would practically be limitless.
 
Fuchs said that the industry has made significant gains on the regulatory side during the past 25 years.
 
“The ink industry has made incredible progress over the years in minimizing or eliminating the use of hazardous materials in their products,” he said. “This required significant technical effort for which the industry has received little recognition. In fact, this goes well beyond basic compliance. Also, ink companies have strived to develop in-house compliance programs all designed to minimize/reduce waste production, air emission and water discharges from their operations.”
 
With that said, there is more that needs to be done.
 
“One of the greatest challenges our and other similar industries face is the ever-increasing demand for assurance of zero risks based on the use of any product – a generally impossible demand even for very low-risk materials like printing inks,” Fuchs reported.
 
Earning the Industry’s Respect
 
Judging by the number of letters of recommendation that were sent in on behalf of Fuchs’ nomination, there is a tremendous amount of respect for Fuchs and for the effort, he puts in on behalf of the ink industry and its suppliers.
 
“George is highly regarded by all that know him in his field of expertise for environmental science and government compliance-related issues and policies.  He has worked for the good of the printing ink industry as well as the entire graphics arts industry,” said NAPIM president John Copeland. 
 
“I have collaborated with George for the past 25 years,” said Lisa Fine, technical director, Joules Angstrom UV Printing Inks. “I am one of the folks he has engaged to participate in his many printing ink and graphic arts committees that have dealt with education and training, sustainability issues, food packaging and safety. I have had a qualified (and long-term) vantage point to recognize the drive, expertise, passion and wit he possesses in all his endeavors in the regulatory and environmental arena. I am honored to work with George, and am grateful for all he has done, both for my company and for graphic arts in general.”
 
Gerald Napiecek, manager – technical and regulatory affairs for Colorcon No-Tox Products Division, spoke of Fuchs’ professionalism and expertise.
 
“George is the epitome of professionalism and truly expert in the fields of printing ink technology and the impact of our niche within the chemical industry on the environment,” Napiecek observed. “George has spearheaded many of our organization’s environmental initiatives, including the creation and maintenance of the NAPIM Biorenewable Content Program (BRC) and our guidelines for formulating printing inks to minimize environmental impact.”
 
“George has always been diligent and eager to promote the knowledge of the industry in the area of technology and regulatory affairs,” added Joe Cichon, VP manufacturing technology, INX International Ink Co. “Over the many years, George has always responded when the call for help went out.”
 
“George has been an absolute stalwart for the continued movement of environmental concerns and regulations for the printing ink and graphic arts industries,” said Dan De Legge, VP of R&D for Inksolutions, LLC. “George has been an incredible source of information and guidance to anyone who asks for his assistance. He has been generous with his knowledge and has been a ‘point man’ for many of our industry concerns.”
 
For his part, Fuchs said he has enjoyed working with the people at NAPIM.
 
“I sincerely appreciate the opportunity I have been given to work with the extremely hardworking and dedicated people within NAPIM’s member companies,” Fuchs concluded. “It is my fervent hope that I have contributed in some ways to the betterment of this unique, important and venerable industry.”