Print's green revolution rolls on

What sort of environmental credentials are print buyers looking for from their print partners and are they prepared to pay a premium for greener print? These were just two of the questions that PrintWeek asked printers and print buyers in the magazine's first ever environment survey. Well over 500 readers responded and the results were very enlightening.

While some of the findings were not surprising - for example, almost half of buyers stated that they specify that more than 50% of their jobs be printed on FSC- or PEFC-certified stock - it's clear that the downturn has had an adverse impact on buyer's attitude towards the environment.

According to printers, more than 30% of buyers are currently specifying the use of recycled grades less frequently as a result of the financial climate, with a quarter of respondents saying that their clients are specifying the use of FSC or PEFC stocks less frequently.

What was also interesting was the discrepancy between buyers' stated attitudes and printers' perceptions of buyer's attitudes. While more than 40% of buyers claimed that the recyclability or biodegradeability of a finished print job was either very important or important, 81% of printers reported that buyers only occasionally expressed an interest in this area, with 15% saying that buyers never showed an interest.

Overall what the survey underlined was that the print industry is striving to do its bit for the environment. Almost two-thirds of printers who took part in the survey have a formal environmental management system or corporate social responsibility policy in place.

With more than 60% of print buyers stating that printers' green credentials are either important or very important, it's clear that printers are responding to the environmental challenge and are laying the foundations for a greener, cleaner industry.

If you don’t subscribe to PrintWeek magazine but would like to receive a copy of the Environment report supplement free of charge, which includes the full results of exclusive survey, email your full name, company name and postal address to kathrine.bradley@haymarket.com and we will send a copy out to you.