|
Being environmentally responsible is becoming more and more important to the print buyer, but printers still have a long way to go
 Over the last 20 years there has been a quiet revolution in printing. A combination of greener technology, customer demands, tighter regulations and cost pressures have transformed the industry, eliminating substantial amounts of chemicals, emissions and waste. Over the last 10 years we’ve also seen increasing use of recycled and forest certified substrates, and many printers now have an environmental management system.
So is print becoming green? Well, there has certainly been a change in attitudes. Becoming greener is seen as a key aspiration for any business that takes its responsibilities seriously and is responsive to customer and societal trends, but there’s still a long way to go. In this century we can start to see what a sustainable print industry would look like; one that is starting to close the loop and minimise its environmental impact through resource and energy efficiency, environmental management, and adopting greener printing technology.
Why go green?
The greener printer will find that it can reduce costs, reduce waste, increase environmental performance and improve working conditions. Printers will find that taking a constructive approach to environmental matters can have a positive effect on their company profitability, staff morale and relationships with customers and regulators.
Being environmentally responsible is no small niche market; it is embedded in the industry in a way that would be unthinkable a few years ago. We often hear from members of the BPIF that their customers expect their printers to be ‘environmentally friendly’; but what does that mean in practice, and how far down the environmental route should a print company go?
The newly updated ‘How to become a Green Printer’ booklet will help printers answer that question. A constructive approach to environmental matters will have a positive effect on business by improving profits. It will also help printers to do business with customers that are under similar pressures to demonstrate environmental responsibility.
The BPIF and Envirowise are continuing to work together on a series of projects, including conferences, seminars and publications, to inform the printing industry about working methods and products that are less harmful to the environment. The booklet contains important information to help businesses. It systematically addresses each stage of the printing process, showing the areas where environmental improvements can be made to ensure that both printer and customer are ensuring that best practice is highlighted.
Turning the book over you’ll find a related guide on ‘What to look for in a greener printer’. Looking at the same issues from your customer’s point of view, it asks questions that print buyers and their customers are asking now or will be in the future. The booklet will help you to understand what the print buyer is looking for when choosing a greener printer. It will help in the understanding of the key terms associated with green print and work with print suppliers to help green the print supply chain. It also explains the benefits to your business of sourcing green print and how it can help communicate an environmental message to customers.
About us
The BPIF is the principal business support organisation representing the UK print, printed packaging and graphic communication industry. It is one of the country’s leading trade associations. The federation strives to ensure their members’ requirements come first. Through listening to their needs they have developed an unrivalled range of products and services that go well beyond those provided by a traditional trade association.
They provide the highest standard of support for printers to grow and develop healthy, sustainable and profitable businesses, aiming to provide an environment geared towards their businesses success. The BPIF offers practical, value-adding solutions for all areas of a print organisation, ranging from health, safety, environmental and quality issues; with the implementation of HR requirements; provides resolutions of technical or legal issues; as well as advice and support on marketing, sales and finance. This is all delivered by individuals and teams of highly skilled and experienced print industry specialists.
For more information
Tel: 01904 203 330
Web: www.britishprint.com |
