The business case for sustainable production adds up on all levels

Printweek editor, Darryl Danielli
Printweek editor, Darryl Danielli

With the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 being hosted in Glasgow in a few weeks, sustainability will likely, and rightly, rise up the nation’s and the agendas of all sectors of industry.

And that’s good news for print, because we have a great story to tell – don’t get me wrong, it could be better still, but we can certainly hold our heads higher than most manufacturing industries.

And let’s be honest, with spiralling energy and input prices set to continue for the foreseeable, I suspect our story will only get stronger as print bosses everywhere look anew at ways of further reducing consumption, boosting efficiencies and cutting waste.

Less because we’ll be unleashing our inner Gretas or Helen ‘think of the children’ Lovejoys (for the Simpsons fans out there) and more to do with the fact that the business case for going greener is only going to get more irresistible.

And something else that the industry has an insatiable appetite for right now seems to be mergers and acquisitions.

If you don’t believe me, just take a look at this issue’s news digest pages, over which are highlighted more than 15 M&A deals, count ’em.

I suspect that in the coming months that momentum is also only going to build, which means exciting times and opportunities ahead for many no doubt.

Although I suspect for the majority, just getting through the past 18 months has been excitement enough and rather than looking for an acquisition, you’re just looking forward to a busy peak season.

And I can hardly blame you.

So, I want to take this opportunity to wish those of you that have been hit hardest by the pandemic a prosperous autumn.

Because, with fewer than 100 sleeps to go, I think that’s a Christmas present that you all deserve.