All part of the process; in association with Environment Agency.

A North East printing firm has come up with an innovative way of combating the issue of industrial waste disposal - it eliminated the problem altogether.

Statex colour print, based on Newcastle's Airport Industrial Estate, has upgraded their computer-to-plate system to be able to produce processless plates.

Steve Miller, Production Director at Statex, said the investment would eliminate all chemical waste, save 180,000 litres of water per year and also reduce electricity usage - which is now down by 33% thanks to a range of efficiency measures taken at Statex.

Of the waste that Statex does produce across the entire business, only 2% now goes to landfill, with the rest being recycled.

Steve added: "These 'processless plates' are the latest in a long line of measures that we have taken at Statex to reduce our impact on the environment. They also allow us to produce plates more quickly, more accurately therefore increasing quality for our clients.

"The new system was installed in February and we are delighted with the results so far - we are working cleaner and more efficiently than ever. Our customers can be sure that they are dealing with a company that has not only spent years honing its environmental credentials but is constantly assessing its position to ensure we are at the forefront of green printing technology."

The new system sits alongside the range of other measures the firm has taken to improve the impact it has on the environment, including intelligent lighting, a recycled heating system, a carefully-managed recycling programme, full accreditation to the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.

Statex also works with the Carbon Trust to monitor and manage its energy use round-the-clock, and has an ongoing employee green training programme.