Lowry Computer Products is TLMI L.I.F.E. Certified

Demonstrating its Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

White Bear Lake, MN – September 3rd, 2013- Lowry Computer Products, the leading enterprise mobility solutions provider and systems integrator of barcode, software and RFID data collection solutions is pleased to announce that their White Bear Lake, MN label converting facility has officially received TLMI’s (Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute) L.I.F.E (Label Initiative for the Environment) certification.  TLMI’s LIFE Program is an audited certification process tailored specifically to the narrow web printing and converting industry.

TLMI’s L.I.F.E Program was introduced in 2009 in order to assist the association’s members with finding cost effective ways to reduce their company’s environmental footprint.  During the certification process organizations address a variety of sustainability performance indicators including: recycle-compatibility of adhesives, the source and destination of liner materials and how narrow web companies are driving recycling programs for these materials.  Material construction light-weighting (adopting thinner constructions that generate less waste) is another L.I.F.E. recommended practice.  Additionally, front office issues are also addressed such as total energy utilization, where that energy is coming from and what a business is doing to actively reduce its overall carbon footprint.

Why Sustainability Has Become More Important in Modern Supply Chains

Over the past several years, sustainability has moved from a talking point to a real priority in the way businesses pick suppliers, source materials, and run their operations. Cost and performance still matter, but they are no longer the entire story. People now look more closely at how products get made, where the waste actually ends up, and whether their suppliers truly take environmental responsibility seriously.

This change has reached almost every sector— manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, healthcare, retail, and enterprise technology. A lot more businesses are trying to find partners who can support both efficiency targets and sustainability goals, without being forced to trade one for the other.

For companies working in labeling, printing, barcode technology, and RFID solutions, sustainability goes well beyond just a recycling bin sitting in the break room. It gets into the details of daily operations:

• Reducing material waste
• Improving energy efficiency
• Using environmentally responsible materials
• Supporting recycling initiatives
• Minimizing unnecessary packaging
• Improving operational efficiency

Programs like TLMI’s L.I.F.E certification were developed specifically to give companies within the label and converting industry a structured way to measure their environmental practices and make meaningful improvements over time.

Supporting Sustainability Through Operational Improvements

Large-scale manufacturing overhauls tend to get most of the attention when people talk about environmental sustainability. But a lot of real progress comes from smaller, consistent operational decisions made day after day.

In label converting and printing environments, modest adjustments to materials or production methods can significantly cut waste when they’re applied across high production volumes.

One example that came up during Lowry’s certification process was material construction light-weighting, using thinner material constructions where the application allows, reducing the amount of material consumed without sacrificing performance.

These kinds of changes tend to:

• Reduce material usage
• Lower shipping weights
• Minimize waste generation
• Improve storage efficiency
• Reduce transportation impact

On their own, each adjustment looks minor. Across an entire production environment over time, the cumulative effect is something worth paying attention to.

This practical approach lines up well with how enterprise organizations tend to evaluate sustainability today. They’re looking for measurable operational changes that serve both efficiency and environmental goals, not one or the other.

The Role of Sustainable Practices in Label and RFID Operations

Labels and RFID setups are workhorses in today’s supply chains, you know. From warehouse inventory to product identification to shipping, they really do help with visibility at pretty much every point of how goods move. Since they’re used at such huge volumes, the environmental footprint from all that material—like adhesives, liners, and packaging—has started getting way more attention and real scrutiny.

The areas that seem to draw the most focus across the industry include:

• Recyclable adhesive technologies
• Programs focused on linear recycling
• Waste reduction initiatives
• Sustainable sourcing practices
• Production processes that use less energy

For organizations running high-volume labeling operations, progress in these areas can contribute a lot to larger environmental goals, but also helps keep operational efficiency tighter.

At the same time, none of it matters if the products stop performing properly. Labels and tracking solutions still have to hold up in demanding conditions. Getting that balance right between performance and sustainability has turned into one of the more pressing priorities around.

Sustainability and Customer Expectations

Environmental responsibility has quietly become a real factor in purchasing decisions across industries. Customers increasingly want to work with suppliers and technology partners who can back up sustainability claims with actual practices, not just language on a website.

This is especially true for enterprise organizations already running their own sustainability programs. Many now evaluate suppliers on environmental practices alongside product quality and service capabilities.

Certifications like TLMI’s L.I.F.E program carry weight here because they point to measurable actions, not general commitments.

Companies are increasingly looking for partners who can genuinely help with:

• Waste reduction
• Sustainable sourcing
• Operational efficiency
• Carbon footprint reduction
• Recycling support
• Long-term environmental planning

Participating in sustainability programs signals that environmental considerations are actually being factored into how a company operates, not just how it presents itself.

Balancing Technology Innovation with Environmental Responsibility

Technology has a big role in helping supply chains and warehouse operations go smoother, like actually run better. Barcode systems, RFID tracking, enterprise mobility devices, and those automated data collection tools all give organizations clearer visibility and cut down on the manual stuff that eats time.

Lately, though, a lot of companies are also asking something like “ok, but can we use the same tech investments for sustainability goals as well?”, you know, not just efficiency.

A few practical examples that come up a lot:

• Better inventory visibility lowers overproduction
• Real-time tracking limits product loss
• Automated workflows reduce paper use  
• Stronger asset management extends the equipment life
• More efficient labeling processes reduce material waste

That link between operational efficiency and environmental responsibility is getting harder to ignore. Most companies seem to want tech solutions that boost productivity but also help them handle resources in a more sensible way, ideally at the same time, not one later than the other.

Long-Term Value of Sustainable Operational Practices

It’s easy to frame sustainability purely as an environmental concern. But the operational benefits deserve equal attention.

Cutting unnecessary waste, improving energy use, and optimizing materials can help organizations:

• Improve operational efficiency
• Reduce certain operational costs
• Streamline production processes
• Support regulatory compliance efforts
• Strengthen brand reputation
• Improve long-term resource management

These gains matter most in industries where scale and material usage are significant. As sustainability expectations continue to rise, building operational strategies that deliver on both performance and environmental responsibility is no longer optional for most businesses; it’s the direction things are heading.

Sustainability as an Ongoing Process

Sustainability doesn’t arrive after a single initiative. For most organizations, it’s a continuous process of evaluating operations, tightening efficiencies, and finding new places to reduce environmental impact.

Programs like TLMI’s L.I.F.E certification give companies a framework to actually measure that progress and keep improving over time.

Ongoing efforts typically cover areas like:

• Material sourcing
• Recycling initiatives
• Energy management
• Waste reduction
• Process optimization
• Sustainable operational planning

As industries keep evolving, businesses face growing expectations, not just around operational performance, but around demonstrating that environmental responsibility is genuinely built into how they work.

Conclusion

Lowry Computer Products’ TLMI L.I.F.E certification reflects a real commitment to running a business that balances operational performance with environmental responsibility. Through initiatives like material light-weighting and ongoing waste reduction efforts, the company continues to support both customer efficiency goals and broader sustainability objectives.

As businesses place greater emphasis on sustainability across supply chains and operations, environmentally conscious practices have become an increasingly important part of how enterprise technology, labeling, and RFID solutions are evaluated and delivered.

“Environmental Sustainability is a business practice that is becoming more important during the customer’s purchasing process” said Michael Lowry, Chief Executive Officer, “Participating in TLMI’s L.I.F.E certification is just one way Lowry is demonstrating our commitment to providing our customers with sustainable solutions, while decreasing the environmental impact of our operations”.

As a part of the L.I.F.E certification process, Lowry implemented a new stock label program that decreases not only Lowry’s environmental footprint, but their customers’ as well by utilizing the practice of material construction light-weighting.  This decision is another example of Lowry’s commitment to helping their customers implement sustainable AIDC solutions that help them achieve their environmental goals.

About Lowry

Since 1974, Lowry Computer Products has been implementing technology innovations nationwide, and with over 10,000 customers, it has established itself as a premier Enterprise Mobility  Systems Integrator focused on wireless networks, tablets and mobile devices, barcode, RFID, biometrics and asset management solutions. Lowry understands that each enterprise has its own specific issues and requirements, and that in order to provide best-in-class solutions to address these issues, a deep understanding of our clients’ unique business processes is a necessity.

For Press Related Questions Please Contact
Elena Palmer
Product Marketing Manager- Corporate Sustainability
(810) 534-1650
elenap@lowrycomputer.com