Our Commitment to Sustainable Printing

At Cummings Printing, sustainability isn’t a marketing checkbox — it’s built into how we operate every day. We believe that responsible printing is good for our customers, good for the industry, and good for the world we all share. Whether you’re publishing a regional magazine, a trade publication, a special interest title, or an alumni magazine, you can feel confident that your project is being produced with environmental responsibility in mind. Here’s what we’re doing to make sure of that.

Kodak Sonora Process-Free Plates

Cummings Printing uses Kodak Sonora Process-Free Plates, and we’re proud participants in Kodak’s Green Leaf Program — a recognition reserved for printers who demonstrate a genuine commitment to more sustainable pressroom practices. Unlike traditional printing plates, Sonora plates require no water, no chemistry, and no electricity to process. That means no chemical waste, no processor maintenance, and no wastewater discharge — eliminating one of the most environmentally intensive steps in conventional offset printing. The result is a cleaner pressroom and a smaller environmental footprint on every job we run. To learn more about Kodak’s Green Leaf Program and what process-free plate technology means for sustainable printing, visit Kodak’s Green Leaf Program page.

Bio-Renewable Inks

We print with Flint Group Agri-Web™ heatset inks — an environmentally friendly ink system built around bio-renewable content. Our inks are formulated with a combination of soy oil, other renewable vegetable oils, and rosin-based resins derived from natural sources like tall oil rosin (a byproduct of the papermaking industry) and gum rosin harvested from live trees. The result is an ink system with a significantly higher overall renewable content than soy oil alone could achieve. Across our four ink colors, the total bio-renewable content — including soy, other renewable oils, and rosin-based resins — ranges from approximately 31% to 40% per color. Our inks qualify for both the “Printed with Soy Ink” seal from the American Soybean Association and the Flint Group Agri-Web™ certification, giving you and your readers confidence that your publication was produced with environmental responsibility in mind. To learn more about soy-based printing inks, visit the American Soybean Association.

FSC® Certified Printing

Cummings Printing is an FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certified print shop. The FSC is an international nonprofit that sets the standard for responsible forest management, ensuring that paper products are sourced from forests that are managed in an environmentally and socially responsible way. To learn more about FSC certification and what it means for responsible sourcing, visit fsc.org.

What this means for you: when your publication requires FSC-certified paper, we can provide it — giving your readers and stakeholders confidence that your print materials are sourced responsibly.

One of New Hampshire's Largest Recyclers

Waste reduction is a core part of how we run our facility. We partner with 4G Recycling to ensure that all paper, cardboard, metal, and plastic generated at our plant is responsibly recycled — keeping materials out of landfills and back into productive use.

Just as importantly, we work hard to prevent waste before it’s created. By running our presses and bindery equipment as efficiently as possible, we minimize overruns and maximize yield on every job. Less waste on the pressroom floor means a smaller environmental footprint for your publication.

A Partner for Sustainability-Minded Publishers

Whether you’re a college or university looking to align your alumni magazine with your institution’s sustainability commitments, or a publication that simply wants to make more responsible choices, Cummings Printing is equipped to help. We’re happy to discuss FSC-certified paper options, bio-renewable ink specifications, Sonora plate printing, or any other sustainability considerations as part of your next project.

Sustainability