Emerging Markets to Drive Recovery of Global Printed Business Communications from 2010-14
• General IT developments: Higher bandwidth and database profiling, greater access to the internet by final users.
• Improvements to printing machinery and equipment: Automation and set-up aids, workflow and process improvement and digital print technology.
• Environmental impact reduction.
The study goes on to add that the market value of business printing is declining in developed regions, an offshoot of the economic slowdown and the usage of new multiple media-driven channels of communication. The key trends for printed business communications discussed in the report include greater media choice, cost reduction initiatives, greater corporate social responsibility and environmental impact reduction, increased personalisation, open tendering processes and increasing use of outsourced print management supply, and online print specifications and buying.
Environmental considerations for business communication print have also become crucial for all businesses, particularly in the developed world, with the replacement of printed material with electronic versions offering cost savings and environmental benefits. Environmentally lead printers are now also benefiting from cost reduction and an increasing customer base. For print, the environmental impact comprises the print process itself, the inputs to the print process (paper or other substrates, ink, solvents, glue and chemicals), the equipment, distribution and the subsequent recycling or disposal of the product. Some business customers demand green credentials such as recycled paper, accredited paper sources, reduced waste, and carbon neutral printing in order to demonstrate their own environmental concerns
Digital print as such offers several environmental benefits over conventional printing, not least the elimination of plates, chemicals and set-up waste in producing fewer copies that may become redundant, even though there is no real objective quantitative measurement to compare alternatives. There are however potential concerns about the recyclability of inkjet and other digital print, but equipment developers are taking action to develop recycling.
The paper industry has also been improving its environmental performance over time with the growth of independent chain of custody schemes, with FSC, PEFC and SFI leading the way. These offer meaningful and consistent classification of the environmental impact of paper, and proof that it comes from sustainable sources. High profile business communications, such as reports and accounts, are produced following best practices in the choice of paper and printing. Governments in developed regions have produced air, water, and hazardous waste regulations that printers need to be aware of and follow. Carbon reduction legislation is also becoming mainstream across the world, with proactive printers and paper companies seeking to target carbon neutrality.
The Future of Printed Business Communications is available now for £3,500. For more information, please contact Stephen Hill on +44 (0) 1372 802025, or via e-mail on stephen.hill@pira-international.com or see www.pira-international.com/businessintelligence
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