The environment is back on the agenda. It would be great to feel it never fell off – but hands on hearts, how many PSPs have over the last few years dismissed it as a box ticking exercise they could do without. According to the findings of our annual Widthwise survey, plenty have thought just that. But retailers, via increasingly robust CSR programmes, are strengthening their environmental supply chains, largely at the behest of the public.
And you know the score – where your customers direct you to go, you go. And that means those PSPs working for brands etc. are not only going to have to face up to the need to become more environmentally conscientious, but to be able to prove it. You can read more on the topic on p24.
Meanwhile, the Shop and Display Equipment Association (SDEA) has recently launched a tool for its members called Convert Plus – a low-cost and easy to use tool that actually helps educate all parties involved in a printed product’s design/production about the potential impact their designs, processes and activities on the environment. The programme was launched at the 100% Design show on Stylo’s stand. Now there’s one company that likes it – you can find out more on p40.
For so many, adopting an environment plan has been - and continues to be - as much about efficiencies as saving the planet. Makes sense. And, in terms of workflow efficiencies, for an albeit small but increasing number of large-format PSPs, Web-to-print is becoming a core part of their strategy. The Talking Point feature this month (p16) is with the founder of rapidly expanding Your Print Partner where online service Santa Sacks is one of the main reasons it has invested £1.5m in larger premises and new print kit, while the Innovators feature (p18) looks at what T’Go Creative is doing with its new online wallpaper designer and order service. Public demand is also a key driver behind both of these. What the public want, the public will get. Will you be the one providing it?