Things are looking up
Martyn Eustace, director of Two Sides, explains how the campaign is tackling the environmental misconceptions about print, including large-format.
Since its launch in 2008, the Two Sides campaign has achieved notable success in spreading the message that the graphic communications industry is a truly sustainable one, producing print in all shapes and forms, using materials from vegetable-based and UV-curable inks to paper, film and printing and finishing equipment, the majority of which can be, or is, produced with or by the use of recycled and sustainable materials.
Developed as a forum for all companies within the print industry to work together and help improve customer confidence in the products and everyday services it produces and provides, Two Sides has embraced the whole of the supply chain within the graphic communications sector, with the current membership including global companies from paper producers and merchants to printing equipment manufacturers to pre-press, consumables and finishing producers, many of which work within the large- or wide-format print sector. Hopefully this has helped right the other misconception - that Two Sides is, “just about paper”.
The aim of the campaign is for all elements of the graphic communications industry to unite together as an industry force to tackle and help dispel the myths, misconceptions and inaccurate information that is often wrongly associated and attached to the industry. The common goal is to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper, helping to dispel, where appropriate, the common environmental misconceptions and prevent the ‘do not print unless necessary’ statements that many companies issue to customers and consumers.
Two Sides has been tackling these incorrect statements, providing the issuers, such as in its recent ‘Anti-Greenwashing’ campaign, which saw Two Sides engage with the banks, telecoms and utilities, providing them with verifiable and quantifiable facts and figures, and working with their legal and marketing departments to help correct the messages they distribute. Some 27 out of 33 companies have so far changed their messaging as a result of the successful campaign, and more are to follow.
So now you might be thinking: “What are the benefits to becoming a member of Two Sides?”
Well, for a start, the companies that you deal with, such as your supply chain partners, customers and consumers will all have the added confidence that you are working to enhance your reputation in relation to sustainability issues, and to demonstrate your proactive approach to sustainable business practices.
In addition your company will be provided with access to all Two Sides materials, and more importantly, access to information on emerging sustainability issues and the challenges that the industry is facing day by day. You will also be provided with a valuable engagement and dialogue platform, providing interaction with industry peers and fellow members, media suppliers, NGO’s and other organisations.
So now the thought is, “How much is this all going to cost?” There are basically three types of membership; Commercial, Representative Body Member and Partner Member.
By undertaking Commercial membership, companies must be actively involved commercially in the graphic communications supply chain. They must commit to the Two Sides principles, and for this an annual commercial membership fee is applicable. This fee is calculated as a percentage of their annual relevant turnover in the UK.
Hopefully, by now the relevance and importance to your company, and more importantly your industry has clearly been demonstrated and has aroused your interest to want to get involved in this worthwhile initiative?
By uniting behind this common purpose we can change the perception of our industry, by working together and helping to improve standards practices and customer confidence in our products and services.
For more information and how to join Two Sides, go to www.twosides.info or email enquiries@twosides.info