How to print sustainably and protect the environment

Sustainability is a key factor when it comes to making new products. This also applicable to print products, but what does this mean for printers? Sonja Angerer discusses how printers can adapt to the new sustainable market?

The economic situation and the growing trend towards online shopping has affected the digital printing industry. Posters and any of the sort of wide format printing are rarely seen in many cities.
                                                                                                                    
In addition, the consciousness on carbon footprint and sustainability has also impacted these ongoing changes. In 2016, as per the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, 250 kilogrammes of paper and cardboard were consumed in Germany per capita. Nearly 90% of this was created by graphic and office applications and packaging printing. This excludes the common plastic and textile printing substrates.

Consumers, particularly younger consumers, are less willing to buy into the wide format printing industry. The printing industry has had to urgently act and actively demonstrate that they can print more sustainably, protect the environment and remain relevant to their customers.

This article looks at 3 issues that printers can address so that they can print more sustainably:

• Substrates
• Production process                      
• Futureproofing

This is based on a broad definition of sustainability , accepting that the environment, the economy and the social sphere are all equally important.   

CAPTION: The topic of sustainability is also taking up a lot of space in (digital) packaging printing. Photo: S. Angerer 

Sustainable use of substrates in printing

1. Buy right

2. Build supply chains

3. Choose material carefully

4. Pay attention to recyclability

Digital print products are designed solely to meet customer requirements. This leads to a mix of materials and a large amount of composite material that often ends up in landfill.
Suggestion: Print products should be redesigned from scratch so that they can be easily be recycled.

 
CAPTION: In many Central European countries, large posters have become a rare sight. Printers have not made enough of an effort to determine how they can print sustainability. Photo: S. Angerer

Sustainmability in the production process

1. Calculate power consumption

2. Refurbish building

3. Not all electricty is made the same

4. Avoid waste

Sustainable management is important for the future

1. Thinking long-term instead of short-term profits

2. The process is as important as the product

3. Be a considerate employer

Printers are finding it increasingly difficult to find qualified and skilled workers, junior or senior level. The large workload and unusual working hours that many companies require doesn’t help.

Suggestion: Instil an appreciative atmosphere, opportunities to progress and planned working hours make companies attractive and futureproof.

Conclusion: Sustainable printing is a must

For printers, sustainability is not only about the environment but about the existence of the entire industry. Sustainable businesses with a strong public presence will be the ones operating long-term.

Depending on their customer base and location, printers are dealing with the pressure to be sustainable at across different levels. To remain relevant, the industry must consider the efforts needed as a requirement to not only the individual printers but their customers and suppliers as well.

Main image caption: Photo: S. Angerer