More than a market-driven trend

PSPs can no longer overlook the Importance of sustainability, and in particular carbon neutrality throughout their production processes. IR managing editor, Melanie Attlesey, speaks to five manufacturers and suppliers to find out what this increasingly important factor means for their business and for you.

As customer expectations increase, becoming a carbon neutral business is something that can no longer be ignored.

It’s not just a market-driven trend, in some instances it’s becoming a must-have because of regulations as well. Carbon reduction and carbon neutrality now sit at the heart of becoming a more sustainable business.

But where does its importance really lie for the wide-format print industry?

The results of our recent Widthwise Survey suggest that for the average business owner, it’s not really of concern. Only 16% of respondents said that reducing their carbon footprint was their main priority towards sustainability.

However, in contradiction to this result, all five of the manufacturers and suppliers who voiced their thoughts on this matter agreed they feel it is rising in importance.

“Print service providers increasingly see carbon neutrality as both a sustainability imperative and a practical business advantage,” says Jessica Shorten Hood of Epson UK. “Those who fail to adapt risk being left behind, but, positively, the majority are moving decisively in this direction,” she continues.

Duncan Smith of Canon UK and Ireland agrees, adding: “With governments introducing tighter regulations and businesses under pressure to show measurable progress on sustainability, carbon neutrality is becoming a crucial consideration across
the printing industry. At the same time, customers increasingly expect suppliers to share their own environmental commitments and goals.”

Noelle Peutat of HP Large Format Printing confirmed she believes that carbon neutrality as a buzzword has lost its power, while Rob Goleniowski of Roland DG and Andy Gregory of Hybrid Services offer similar views, saying that carbon neutrality is becoming a defining issue for the print industry and increasing in significance for both their customers and end-users.

With Rob adding: “The industry has historically carried a heavy environmental footprint, but through more energy-efficient equipment, sustainable inks, and recyclable materials, we are steadily reducing that impact.”

A preoccupation 

Becoming carbon neutral isn’t something that just preoccupies the minds of PSPs, it’s something that manufacturers are having to focus on too. Every scheme they offer or machine upgrade they do is passed down the line to printers and has an impact on your business.

Each individual manufacturer is implementing changes to their own products and offerings for the betterment of the wide-format print industry. And below is just a small insight into what they are doing right now.

Starting with Mimaki. This manufacturer has taken the decision to remove single-use plastic from its ink cartridges and is developing low-energy use printers such as the UJV range of LED UV models to help reduce energy consumption, when compared to latex inks – which not only has an environmental benefit but a cost one too. Hybrid. Mimaki’s exclusive UK distributor, has also introduced its Let’s Do More recycling scheme for customers to take advantage of.

“Improvements like this gives our customers reassurance that the equipment and inks they choose help them reduce their own environmental impact,” Andy says.

In a similar vein, HP designs its products using recycled and recyclable materials and minimises the amount of waste used in its packaging, whether that’s for printers or supplies.

“For us, the focus is on impact,” explains Noelle. “We are at the beginning of this journey, learning alongside our customers to bring more value.”

HP customers can also make use of services such as HP Planet Partners, a takeback and recycling scheme, and HP Print OS Sustainability Amplifier, a software tool that helps PSPs assess their current situation and offers suggestions for improvement.

An early adopter of this tool, is Richard Bottril from Pearce Signs, saying: “It demystifies abstract sustainability ambitions into structured, measurable actions.”

The same can be said for Canon as its production presses such as the Colorado M-Series use inks with low emissions, long-life print heads and automation to reduce waste. Canon’s Red Label Zero paper range is Forest Steward Council certified, ClimatePartner certified, and manufactured with reductions implemented across the footprint.

“For Canon, carbon neutrality means taking responsibility for emissions at every stage of our products’ lifecycle, from sourcing and manufacturing to transport, use and end-of-life,” explains Duncan. “Across our portfolio, we are ensuring products are designed with sustainability front of mind.”

Epson is tackling its decarbonisation by transitioning all global sites to 100% renewable energy and cutting emissions further through electric vehicle adoption and reduced business travel. The manufacturer has also applied its proprietary dry-fibre technology to transform waste garments into rewoven fabrics for direct to fabric printing.

“Carbon neutrality sits at the heart of Epson’s long-term strategy,” says Jessica. “We’ve committed 100 billion JPY by 2030 towards decarbonisation, resource recycling, and environmental technology development to achieve our 2050 vision of becoming carbon negative and underground resource-free.”

And finally, Roland DG has introduced cardboard-based ink cartridges that cut plastic use by 82% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 350 tons annually, and its TrueVIS AP-640 Latex printers support PVC-free media. Not only this, but Roland DG has also engineered built-in energy saving features such as sleep timers and smart wake-up functions across its range.

“For us, carbon neutrality means embedding sustainability into every part of our business and product development,” explains Rob. “Our goal is to create technologies that help customers reduce waste, cut emissions, and operate more efficiently.”

Reassurance given

Improvements and commitments such as those described above by these select manufacturers and suppliers gives PSPs reassurance that the equipment and inks they choose are helping along their journey to becoming carbon neutral.

“Our approach gives customers confidence that their printing operations can support both their business goals and their environmental commitments,” says Duncan.

While Rob adds: “For our customers, sustainability goes hand-in-hand with profitability. Ultimately, customers can provide greener products to their end-users, helping them differentiate in an increasingly sustainability-driven marketplace.”

What was clear when speaking to these manufacturers and suppliers was that each had their own approach and take on what it means to be carbon neutral. But what they did agree on was that the process for a PSP to becoming carbon neutral should be viewed as a journey, not a single step.

Andy says: “Sustainability shouldn’t be looked at as a one-off target but an ongoing journey. Small changes across operations and processes add up.”

Duncan agrees, saying: “Carbon neutrality should be viewed as a milestone rather than an endpoint. The printing industry should continue moving towards climate positive approaches that not only reduce impact but also generate wider environmental benefits.”

There are huge plus points in becoming a carbon neutral business, not just for you as a wide-format printer, but for the wider environment too. It’s something that every PSP should be striving to achieve. And the phrase ‘carbon neutral’ is definitely now recognised as more than just a buzzword.

Signing off with one final thought on carbon neutrality is Noelle: “Carbon neutrality alone won’t win hearts or business. Action, transparency, and continuous improvement will. That’s the story PSPs should be telling, and that’s where the future of print sustainability lies.”