UK Printers Must Do More Environmentally

A survey of the top 200 UK printers by GI Direct has found that direct marketing and print industries are not doing enough to rebut criticism on environmental matters.

Despite the various environmentally friendly initiatives that the print industry is involved in, the results of this research suggest that too little effort is being made by the industry to acquire environmental accreditations, added GI Direct.

The company said that the key findings of its research showed that 24 per cent of the UK's top 200 printing companies are accredited to ISO 14001 and only 14 per cent subscribe to Forest Stewardship standards, or a recognised equivalent.

Fewer than five per cent of those firms have become independently accredited as carbon neutral, added the company.

Patrick Headley, sales director at GI Direct, said:"'There evidently needs to be urgent and serious effort by the printing industry to obtain a level of accreditation that clearly demonstrates, through credible and independent audit, the true environmental compliance of the sector." He continued: "There is a sufficient level of experience and expertise in environmental standards accreditation for leading firms to share that experience with those not yet accredited, which are often small companies.

That would help them do so successfully and efficiently." To understand the facts about printing industry environmental accreditation levels, GI Direct said it commissioned research from independent body MarketingUK.

The research, which was carried out amongst the country's top 200 printing firms during March, examined accreditation to the three most relevant environmental standards, or their near equivalents.

Those standards are ISO14001, the international standard for environmental procedures, including recycling, waste disposal, production methods and re-manufacturing, as well as Carbon Neutral, where a number of organisations, such as the Carbon Trust, provide accreditation through which companies can ensure their carbon neutrality.

In addition, there is The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international network promoting responsible management of the world's forests and offering accreditation for companies that adhere to its standards.

Headley commented: "'The industry needs to initiate more effective encouragement and education of printing firms in the advantages of accreditation, both for companies individually and for the industry as a whole.".

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