The organisers of the recent inaugural EcoPrint 2012 event in Berlin have declared it a success following the attendance of visitors from over 37 countries.
Frazer Chesterman, co-director of EcoPrint, said: “During a Drupa year, it was clear that launching a new event concept would be challenging for the market as well as for us as exhibition organisers. However, the successful launch of EcoPrint proved there is a need for high quality information and insight in sustainability for the print and creative communities. The popularity of the conference sessions absolutely exceeded expectations and the international brands and visitors who made the effort to attend EcoPrint 2012 provided genuine input in seminars, sessions and discussions. Visitors attended from 37 different countries, demonstrating that the appetite for sustainability is strong, globally, and this also gave exhibitors and printers present an opportunity to look outside of the industry and consider their businesses in a global context.”
Co-Director, Marcus Timson continued: “EcoPrint broadly established a new concept – an event dedicated to sustainability - and validated the fact that a focus on sustainability is needed in our industry. This was particularly clear from the standing-room-only conferences and seminars where the emphasis on sharing knowledge couldn’t have been clearer.”
Two themes prevalent throughout the show were eco-standards/labels and price versus sustainability. Despite their proliferation being a headache for printers, many felt well researched and fully-consulted upon labels might still have a place in our industry; helping to establish criteria for printers to follow in order to align with buyer’s requirements and helping buyers establish fact from fiction. Meanwhile, it was clear from the various price-versus-sustainability debates that although pre-occupation with price can turn buyers away from sustainable print at present, huge market share awaits the printer/manufacturer that can achieve price parity or near parity, with the potential rewards justifying the research.
The EcoPrint team is keen to maintain the momentum and last week also revealed details of EcoPrint 2013 which will be held alongside Ifra at the Berlin Messe, 8-9 October.
“Sustainability is a journey and EcoPrint 2012 has re-invigorated the sustainability debate in our industry – given it fresh focus and renewed momentum, and we now have a rare opportunity to promote print’s enviable sustainable performance to our own community of leaders as well as specifiers, agencies and brands,” said Chesterman. “We are, as Michael Braungart said at the event, ‘a forming community’ and I’m looking ahead now to EcoPrint 2013 with a great deal of positivity and excitement.”
An EcoPrint Report will be published in November to put on record for the sustainable print community the themes, discussions and visions emanating from EcoPrint 2012.
The breakdown of visitors was 55% PSPs, 15% brands and agencies and the rest a combination of press, manufacturers, consultants and specialists.