It took eleven working meetings, a multi-stakeholder summit, several webinars and a full year of exchanges. The Sustainable Print Manifesto has now been made available to the entire graphic arts chain. It is a voluntary framework of good environmental practices, designed collaboratively, and can be applied in all printing segments: commercial, industrial, packaging, label, textile, large format.
A collective effort supported by manufacturers and federations
The text was drafted collectively by a working group comprising printers, press and consumables manufacturers, technical consultants, brands and trade association representatives.
A number of companies have supported the initiative from the outset, both financially and strategically, including HP, Domino Printing Sciences, Gallus, ink manufacturer Sun Chemical, UK consultancy CarbonQuota, printing group CPI Books and web-to-print giant Cimpress.
The manifesto is also supported by several trade federations: BPIF and IPIA in the UK, VIGC in Belgium and the Printing United Alliance in the USA.
Nine technical principles, applicable without overinvestment
The document does not replace existing regulatory frameworks or standards. Nor does it propose certification. Its aim is to avoid the current fragmentation of sustainability efforts, which are still largely dependent on local constraints and the priorities of individual companies.
The manifesto is based on nine concrete principles, presented as immediately applicable, without the need for structural transformation or major investment. These include designing print for its actual use, optimizing production, reducing waste, selecting low-impact inks and substrates, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, lowering water requirements, rationalizing finishing, reusing and recycling operational materials, and transparently documenting impacts on the basis of measurable data.
The Sustainable Print Manifesto, an open-access document
The manifesto is available to download free of charge. Any company can read it, apply it at its own pace, or formalize a voluntary commitment. The text is presented as a living document, which will evolve as feedback is received.
Carlos Lahoz, HP representative on the working group, emphasizes: "I believe in the value of print, but also in the need to make progress. Progress will come through collaboration based on trust and transparency. That's what this manifesto makes possible, and why I'm committed to it."
