The Print Council to Introduce New Position Paper, 'Why Print Is Green'
WASHINGTON, DC—08/25/2009—Printing’s strengths as a sustainable and environmentally responsible communications medium will be explored and promoted in a new position paper that is being developed by The Print Council. Created for use by the printing industry, the report is scheduled for release at PRINT 09, the industry’s premier trade show, which takes place in Chicago September 11th to 16th.
“Our industry is a leader in recycling, sustainability and pollution control,” says Ben Cooper, Executive Director of The Print Council. “In fact we pioneered putting those concepts into widespread practice over the past three decades. But we did so quietly, to the extent that there is a lack of awareness regarding the environmentally responsible nature of print. That’s why we created and will be distributing this new position paper.”
Titled Why Print Is Green, the new report describes ten specific ways in which print is green – from the responsible products used, renewable energy sourced, increased recycling rates, improved design and delivery methods. The report is intended for use by printers and designers to demonstrate to their customers why print media is the environmentally sound choice for communicating with the audiences they want to reach.
Among the facts the white paper documents:
In 2008, more than 57 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling, more than any material.
The paper industry is aiming to reach 60 percent recycling by 2012. Every additional percentage point means that a million tons of paper are recovered.
Less than 10 percent of U.S. power comes from renewable sources, but in the pulp and paper industry, that figure is greater than 60 percent.
Printers are frequent buyers of renewable-energy certificates. These certificates — which represent power generated by wind, hydro, solar, or biomass — support growth of renewable energy producers.
The average person’s paper use for a year — 440 pounds — is produced by 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity, the amount used to power one computer continuously for 5 months.
"Media buyers and marketers who believe that print is lagging as an environmentally friendly medium need to know these facts, which show that print is in fact leading in this critical area,” Cooper points out. “Why Print Is Green will document the information, serving as an easy-to-use reference guide for print producers and print consumers.”
Printed copies of Why Print Is Green can be ordered via email jnvinyard@msn.com.
About The Print Council
Through education, awareness, market development, advocacy and research, The Print Council serves the industry to develop, maintain and increase the market for printed materials. The Print Council can be contacted through Ben Cooper, Executive Director, at 202-973-5977, by e-mail at bycooper@wms-jen.com, or on the Web at www.ThePrintCouncil.org.
MEMBERS
Alcom Printing Group International Paper Mossberg & Company
Appleton Coated IWCO Direct NAK Marketing & Communications
Broadford & Maloney Inc. Jacob North Printing NewPage
Classic Graphics Japs-Olson The P.A. Hutchison Company
Colorado Printing Jet, Inc. Panaprint, Inc.
Continental Web Press The John Roberts Company Pitney Bowes
Corporate Press Kodak Sandy Alexander
Custom Data Imaging Lake County Press Sappi Fine Paper
EFI Lawton Printing Unisource
Friesens Corp. Lecta North America U.S. Postal Service
GLS Companies Leo Burnett USA Westamerica Graphics
HBP Inc. Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses Williamson Printing
Heidelberg USA Mohawk Fine Papers Xerox
The Hickory Printing Group
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Cal Poly Kean University Press+
CUNY Liberty or Death Communications Penton Media
Cygnus Business Media Media Ink Print Buyers Online
DMA NAPIM Printers NW Trader
EDSF NAPL Printing Industries of America
EMA New England Printer & Publisher Printing Industries Alliance
GAA North American Publishing Reed Business
Graphic Communications World NPES RIT
Group M NPTA Rogers Media
HSPR NYU TAGA
IAPHC OutputLinks WhatTheyThink.com
IdeaAlliance PennWell Xplor International
InfoTrends PICA
- Companies:
- The Print Council