Launched in 2009 in Amsterdam the revised FESPA Planet Friendly Guide is an essential resource for all screen and wide-format digital printers and is the most comprehensive one-source document available, containing up-to-date relevant European environmental legislation.

Authored by FESPA's Michel Caza, in collaboration with environmental consultant, Paul Machin, the Guide offers over 100 pages of expert content, including information and advice on water and air emissions, waste control, energy management and environmental best practice.

Reasons for the Planet Friendly Guide

During the first decade of this century there was clear evidence that climate change was becoming an international issue. At that time there was no comprehensive guide on all environmental issues that was available to the screen or digital printer. Whether it is believed that Climate Change and Global Warming is taking place or not, it is a subject that printers must be aware of if they wish to continue in business over the next decade. Why? Because the European Union (EU) Commission believes it is an issue that needs addressing. They will be taking potential punitive action to ensure corrective measures are implemented. This action will have a direct impact upon printers and their customers. What is the European approach? The European Union (EU) is committed to working constructively for a global agreement to control climate change, and is leading the way by taking an ambitious action of its own. Following the Kyoto Protocol the EU have generated a number of Directives. Further action has been taken following the Copenhagen Climate Conference in 2009 and the Durban Climate Conference in 2011. The more important actions are: Directive 2004/101/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of the electricity produced from renewable energy source in the internal electricity market and Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings. This Directive will directly affect every printer across Europe in due course. Other environmental based Directives include; Directive 2010/75/EU Industrial Emissions from printing sites, Directive 2000/60/EC Community action in the field of water policy, Directive 2008/99/EC Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law and Hazardous Waste Directive 91/689/EEC affecting a sizeable proportion of printer’s waste. Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer. Following the Bali Roadmap the EU is determined to proceed with major reductions in emission levels of greenhouse gases following the Copenhagen Summit in 2009 and the Durban Climate Conference in 2011. Many printers do not have the time (or in some cases the ability) to fully understand the implications of environmental best practice and policy so FESPA has produced this guide in plain English to enable all printers understand the regulations better and what they need to do to ensure compliance with the many different aspects of the legislation.



Hear more about the guide from Paul Machin here

There are also links to external websites for additional information and guidance and the Guide is regularly updated to reflect ongoing changes to legislation, ensuring that FESPA’s Association members can keep up to date with any new information, regarding the environmental issues that affect them.


The Planet Friendly Guide is available to all printers, please click here to register and be sent the guide.

The most recent Planet Friendly Guide with the new legislation changes remains exlusive to members of FESPA National Associations for a limited time.

If you are a member, already have a password and would like to access the most recent Planet Friendly Guide click here

If you would like information on how to become a FESPA member, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FESPA TV spoke to Mike Horsten of Zemt Green Consulting about the development of textile print, how the wider market is embracing it, and the importance of sustainability in print.

Sometimes I wonder why there is so much discussion about sustainability and the green impact, when most of us are just worried about surviving in this economic crisis. Yes the politicians say the crisis is over, but in our wide-format industry we have not seen the recovery that they all talk about. Let’s all hope it turns out for the best this year. 

We do need to realize that the ways of the past are gone and that we need to engage ourselves in new ideas and innovations. Green is one of those topics that comes up every time when we talk about innovation. It looks like sustainability and green are synonymous to the word innovation.  In many ways, it’s driving innovation but it should not become the target when it comes to green and sustainable business there needs to be some feeling and rationale behind green.

Europe's companies need a secure supply of energy at affordable prices in order to maintain a competitive edge. At the same time, the negative effects of energy use, particularly fossil fuels, on the environment must be reduced. That is why EU policy needs to create a competitive internal energy market by developing renewable energy sources, reducing dependence on imported fuels with a lower consumption of energy.