In our first blog on getting industry associations to encourage
wider sustainability awareness, we put the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle, at the top of the list. But sector specific environmental
impact and sustainability policy statements need much more. Graphic
industry sectors such as newspapers, magazines, book and packaging
production really should have robust environmental guidance from
their associations. Sadly it’s largely absent from their websites
and, even sadder, this is a missed opportunity. A high profile
position on the environment helps the graphics industry to take
ownership and lead the environmental impact conversation. It’s also
useful reference for countering the negativity that is often
associated with print in all its forms.

Sector specific policy statements can help to codify key
sustainability concerns for members. We’ve talked about the three
Rs and we have also suggested adding energy emissions to the list
of things to think about. Next on the list should be suggestions
for improving waste management throughout the supply chain, with
ideas for how to cut waste and use it as a resource.

Paper is probably the biggest source of waste for the printing
and publishing industries. Healthy paper recycling supply chains
are the lifeblood of many paper mills, particularly those producing
newsprint. But modern printing techniques, new ink recipes and the
use of coatings and varnishes and other embellishments can make it
harder to recycle materials using established deinking methods.
This doesn’t mean industry associations should discourage the use
of digital printing and embellishment technologies, far from it:
it’s up to the paper industry to keep up with printing advances.
But industry associations should be advising members to be aware of
the importance of printed paper’s deinkability, and of the
particular type of new paper it can be recycled into.

Other measures to help people deal with waste include process
efficiency and colour management. Getting accurate colour early in
the production process requires awareness of colour management,
device profiling, frequent proofing and discussion with clients to
ensure that the colour they want is the colour they can have. This
aspect of waste management is also a means of improving time
management.

So now we have a basic list of things to consider in an
environmental policy statement for associations. The three Rs,
energy emissions, waste management are just the start but all three
topics can differ in their details, depending on what sector we are
talking about. As long as we work to a common framework, we might
see an overall improvement in overall environmental awareness in
the graphics industry.

– Laurel Brunner

This article was produced by the Verdigris Project, an
industry initiative intended to raise awareness of print’s positive
environmental impact. This weekly commentary helps printing
companies keep up to date with environmental standards, and how
environmentally friendly business management can help improve their
bottom lines. Verdigris is supported by the following
companies: Agfa Graphics, EFI, Fespa, HP, Kodak, Kornit, Ricoh, Spindrift, Splash
PR, Unity Publishing and Xeikon.