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ImageWelcome to Verdigris. This site provides information about environmental initiatives for the international printing community. It has a range of articles and reference links for printers, publishers, technology providers and anyone else who’s interested.

Articles cover all sorts of topics from explaining the basics of carbon footprinting for printers, to describing how individual printing companies are doing their bit to minimise their impact on the envrionment. This is an educational site that includes reference material and links to industry associations and environmental organisations around the world.

Sustainability certifications on the rise

Mon, 02/10/2023 - 16:20

medium_laurel2015.jpgThe Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner

It’s tempting to be cynical about certifications, and easy to dismiss them as cosmetic marketing. But given the intense competitiveness of today’s graphics business, certifications at least demonstrate that a company has undergone some sort of accountability process. This is true for environmentally aware print service providers such as Ashley House printing in the UK and Druckstudio Gruppe in Germany. It’s increasingly true for manufacturers as well.

How meaningful are goals for reducing environmental impact?

Mon, 18/09/2023 - 08:31

medium_2015_Laurel B.jpgThe Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner

Net-zero by 2050. Zero waste to landfill. Zero emissions. They all sound good but none of these has meaning without direct action. At the heart of any sustainability initiative is resource management and improved process control. The good news is that both will improve a business’s profitability as well as helping the planet.

How printers and publishers can have meaningful sustainability programmes

Tue, 05/09/2023 - 08:10

Laurel-2018.jpgThe Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner

Getting with environmental sustainability is important for the planet, but for most print service providers they do it for their clients. Appealing to the environmental sensitivities of customers and prospects is why more and more companies are touting their environmental credentials. This must go beyond flimsy commitments such as using sustainably sourced papers or motion-sensitive lighting. These are worthy efforts, but far more needs to be done. Fortunately the market is starting to demand more concrete efforts from their supply chains. Sustainability one-upmanship from service providers will be a good thing for our industry, as long as it’s based on facts and actions.

Are digital press manufacturers doing their customers a disservice?

Mon, 21/08/2023 - 08:46

medium_laurel2015.jpgThe Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner

A long time ago the then chief of Heidelberg told us that his company’s days as industry leader were numbered. He said that the likes of Ricoh, HP and Canon would come to dominate the printing industry and that digital printing was the way of the future. And so it has come to pass. The companies he mentioned have taken over Heidelberg’s lead in many areas but especially in sustainability messaging. Unfortunately not much of those messages gets heard or appreciated by printing and publishing businesses

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Mon, 07/08/2023 - 09:05

medium_2015_Laurel B.jpgThe Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner

Another week, another clever climate change mitigation effort. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has the private, as opposed to public, business sector in its sites. The organisation wants to help corporations to develop ambitious climate action projects. Over 4000 companies around the world are working with the SBTi model.

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