With the launch of Copiers Northwest’s PrintReleaf program coming soon, we sat down with PrintReleaf CEO Jordan Darragh to find out what he was all about!
Who are you and what does your company do?
I’m the founder and CEO for PrintReleaf. Our company provides a software platform that automates the measurement of paper consumption and, in turn, the equivalent reforestation back into the environment.
What inspired you to start PrintReleaf?
I had spent a decade in the print industry and about three years in clean tech energy development. I always wanted to start my own company and when I thought of the idea for PrintReleaf it seemed to be at the center of my passion and the knowledge I had gained over the years. So I decided to go for it.
How important do you think reducing our environmental impact really is?
Extremely important. Part of PrintReleaf’s mission is to provide education and information to our partners and their customers about WHY we need adopt products and services like PrintReleaf. For example, we’ve integrated our platform with Global Forest Watch – a platform which collects real time forest loss and gain data from satellites and streams it to applications like PrintReleaf. We then aim to develop reforestation projects where significant deforestation has occurred. Forest loss impacts so many things: carbon emissions (since carbon is stored in forests and when they are cut / harvested, the carbon is released into the atmosphere), in turn…we lose what was a sponge for sequestering carbon out of the atmosphere. Of course this segways into the conversation on global warming. Additionally, forest loss impacts water tables and water supply….which, in turn, negatively impacts the life connected to it (plant, animal and human). So it’s all interconnected and we’re looking to neutralize and reverse this trend. The world has lost billions of hectares (1 hectare = the size of a soccer field) over the last century due to deforestation from logging for forest products (wood/paper), urban development, and agricultural development.
Ultimately, I think reducing our environmental impact is really important because often our society only reacts when the problem and symptoms become acute and severe. It takes a long time, relatively, for our climate problems to mature…and therefore it will also take a long time to solve or reverse. We’re looking to head that off right now; shorten the duration for future generations.
Do you believe that there are reliable fuel alternatives besides fossil fuels that could sustain a modern society? If so, do you have any ideas as to what these alternatives could be?
Sure…of course solar and wind are growing in popularity and, as a result, finding lower prices ($/kWh) that approach parity with fossil fuels. One of the more the interesting developments in biofuels originates right in your backyard (Seattle): Vitruvian Energy. The founder, Zack McMurry, is a close family friend and he has spent years developing technology (now patented) to convert wastewater into biofuel – which can be used just like traditional gasoline (petroleum). But, we migrate from fossil fuel dependence and… the emissions are lower.
How do you see PrintReleaf evolving over the next 5 years?
We are primarily focused on developing our network of partners, like Copiers Northwest, in the office print vertical right now….both domestically and internationally. From there, we intend to move laterally to other vertical print markets: graphic / commercial printing, online / retail printing, and other forest/paper-based markets (office supply, packaging, etc.). At some point we want the term ‘releaf’ to be as ubiquitous as ‘recycle’.
Jordan Darrah’s Bio
Jordan founded PrintReleaf and serves as CEO. Jordan has spent the last two years laying the foundation to bring PrintReleaf to market with primary focus on product development, market development, forest capacity recruitment, and establishment of industry standards for forest certification and verification processes. Prior to founding PrintReleaf, Jordan was a Partner and VP of Sales & Marketing for LaserCycle Imaging for more than a decade. He was responsible for both top and bottom line performance and successfully positioned LaserCycle Imaging as one of the largest and most profitable Managed Print Services (MPS) companies in the Western Region of the country. Jordan also spent three years managing business development for EnerNOC, a leading public smart grid company (NASDAQ: ENOC), and was responsible for developing clean energy programs for utilities in the Western Region of the U.S. Jordan is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
Copiers Northwest can help your business with Document Management services that can help reduce your costs and protect our fragile environment.
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