Lisa Nave

Staff Photo by Allison Kwesell Lisa Nave shows recycled goods at TPC Printing and Packaging. Ms. Nave started Greener Planet, a company now working with TPC Printing, focusing on recycling and reducing waste.

As Greener Planet puts its first year behind it, Lisa Nave said the environmental consulting company is preparing to spread its services to other firms.

Greener Planet LLC is a subsidiary of TPC Printing and Packaging.

Ms. Nave, Greener Planet's environmental coordinator, said the "company within a company" was formed July 1, 2008, to help TPC implement and expand its environmental programs.

It will soon begin offering its consulting services to other companies.

"Rather than adding an employee to TPC, they thought they could start a small company, Greener Planet LLC, because they recognized that if they were having trouble finding help (with environmental regulations) other small to medium sized businesses also were probably having trouble finding help," Ms. Nave said.

Hilda S. Murray, executive vice president for TPC, said Greener Planet is the product of responsible business practices.

"We recognized the need to put total focus into our environmental and sustainability effort in order to promote stewardship throughout our business and carry it over into our community," Ms. Murray said. "Our goal is to reach out to other businesses who have the same type of philosophy, but need the expertise to implement the same type of internal programs that not only promote sustainable initiatives but eventually reduce costs."

Greener Planet manages two international programs for TPC that promote responsible forest management and raw materials sourcing as well as oversees TPC's waste stream report that tracks each department's raw materials use, handling, storage and disposal.

The environmental consulting firm has helped TPC revamp its safety program, boost its paper recycling program and set up an office and employee recycling program.

"You have to make it easy and convenient for people to recycle," she said. "The employees here have been pitching in and doing their part."

TPC recycles between 1,200 and 1,500 tons of paper a year, which Ms. Nave said includes 3/4 ton a month contributed by its 150 employees.

Greener Planet has not begun consultation work yet, but Ms. Nave said she has had discussions with other companies about it.

"It all depends on the size of the project," she said. "We are probably ready to take on some smaller projects, but we haven't started that yet."